GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 16

love
Good morning Merry Sunshine
BY AVERY MALIA GIESKER
"
I
n my short sixteen years of living, tattoos have
always intrigued me. How do people decide on the
designs or words they want to live with forever?
I grew up around family and adult friends who
always had intricate work on their bodies. My parents
have many beautiful, expressive tattoos. These designs
tell stories.
I have many ideas of what I want on my body permanently.
For example, my grandma (I named her
MeMe, pronounced may-may, when I was a small
child) always said to me " Good Morning Merry
Sunshine " . That's something I never forgot, and she
still says it to me. I cherish it with my whole heart.
16 GRAND Summer 2023
As I lay in the chair, needle
vibrating my arm as the ink
went into my skin, I knew
I would cherish it forever.
"
So when I told MeMe last year that I needed her
to write it for me in her handwriting for a tattoo, she
didn't believe it. When she visited a few months ago I
officially got her to write it out for me. She wrote just
about a million versions trying to perfect each one.
But I chose the first one she wrote. It was effortless
and the truest to her.
After getting permission from my parents, I set my
appointment. I didn't tell MeMe because she never
believed it was something I would want on my body
forever.
On the way to my appointment I called her. She
couldn't believe I was actually doing it! As I lay in the
chair, needle vibrating my arm as the ink went into my
skin, I knew I would cherish it forever. I didn't care a
wink if the handwriting from her was perfect - as long
as it was hers.
When my artist finished, I was almost scared to look
at it - but once I did I was in awe. It was MeMe's handwriting
and it was all mine.
When I sent MeMe a picture she responded saying
" My dear darling granddaughter, I just wanted to let
you know how loved you make me feel! I still can't
quite believe that this was what you wanted as a
tattoo! Know always how much I love you, my darling
Avery Malia! XOXO MeMe " .
That's why I did it - because of the joy and happiness
our relationship holds.
So even if I don't hear her say it to me every morning
when I look at my arm, I see my MeMe telling
me as she is wearing her little apron and holding her
coffee cup as I grumpily rub my eyes.
As she smiles, telling me " Good morning merry sunshine "
when she is gone I will always see that image
every time I look at my arm and know she's with me.
Click here to see lyrics to the charming folksong,
Good Morning Merry Sunshine.
Avery Giesker
pictured here with her
grandmother, aka MeMe.
Avery is a sixteen-yearold
high school senior.
She will be attending
college next fall aiming
for a degree in English
Teaching. Avery also
plays golf and softball
for her high school and is
hoping to earn a sports
scholarship to Arizona
State University.

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GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023

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