A Fish For My Dad

Tattoo by Meg Niittynen of Ink Factory

Iwant to tell you about two tattoos. The first is a small rainbow trout and the second is a set of four small black dots. This is the third fish-themed tattoo I’ve talked about over the last 12 months, but this one is different because it’s on me!

Two years ago, in honour of my dad’s 70th birthday and a childhood full of fishing memories, I got this little rainbow trout tattooed on my arm. My dad’s reaction to the tattoo was barely perceptible… but I think it was positive. Or maybe he hated it, but that’s okay. I already knew he didn’t care for my evergrowing tattoo collection. He just wasn’t fond of tattoos.

But he was fond of fishing. He loved being out in nature with a fishing rod and a metal lunch box. Often he went with his buddies, sometimes with my brother and me, and frequently he went out alone. He never had a boat of his own, but he never tired of telling anyone who would listen about his favourite hike-in fishing spots.

Early in October of this year my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. Shortly after his diagnosis, he got four tiny black dots tattooed on his chest: medical tattoos. In radiation therapy, the little dots are used to line up and aim the radiotherapy machine. Unfortunately, my dad didn’t get as far as starting treatment and passed away in his sleep on October 24, 2022. It happened really fast, but I like to think I turned him into a tattoo fan at the end. My mom told me that after the medical tattoo appointment, my dad said, “Well I have tattoos now, so I guess Leah will be proud of me.”

And I was proud of him. When I was a kid, I was proud of how strong he was and how tall he was; he could build anything and fix anything, and he made people laugh. I was also really proud of him when he brought home a lot of fish. Now, as an adult, I’m proud of how he kept going. No matter what life threw at him, he just kept going until he couldn't anymore. Then he went to sleep.

And I guess it is pretty badass to get your first tattoo at age 72, even if it’s for medical reasons. Rest in peace to my old dad Paul. I hope all the fishing holes beyond the veil are well stocked.