Kerouac tattoos and license plates

I'm trying to collect pictures of license plates and tattoos that have something to do with Jack Kerouac. If you have one, or see one, please snap a picture and e-mail it to me via thebeathandbook at gmail.com. We'll post it here on The Daily Beat. So far I have two license plates (one is mine) and one tattoo (mine). I don't want to simply mine the Internet for pictures! Let's get personal. Send me your pic with your name, where you're from, and a story about the picture. If you want your name and/or location withheld, let me know in your e-mail.

Thanks!

Kerouac tattoo

I don't know what took me so long to get a Kerouac tattoo, given my obsession with Jack and the beats, but here it is, courtesy today of Kathy Healey of Sinful Addictions in Hallowell, Maine. I think you can read what it says, but in case you can't, it's what Jack wrote on a thumbnail-sized piece of paper and gave to Japhy when the two parted at the end of The Dharma Bums. It relates to the Diamond Cutter Sutra, a sacred Buddhist text that Jack studied, and says:

MAY YOU USE THE DIAMONDCUTTER OF MERCY

It's capitalized in the book, so I went for authenticity.

I wanted a Kerouac quote as a tattoo, and I resonated with this one, in part because it's not an overused Kerouac quote (indeed, if you Google it, you'll find little), and in part because it advocates compassion using a paradoxical image. What takes me so long to get tattoos (this was my sixth visit) is that I stew on the idea until one strikes me. In this case, I was sure about the quote a while ago, but then I had to stew on where to put it. The idea of the banner woven through the existing Little Prince stars came to me, and I was ready to visit Kathy. The typewriter font was a no-brainer.

You've likely seen the below tattoo of Jack and the lengthy quote from On The Road that takes up a person's entire back. Pretty cool, but too much pain and expense for me. And it's a bit much.


I wouldn't mind getting "mad to live" tattooed somewhere (not an original idea - I saw it on Google). It's a great abbreviation of the famous On The Road quote that starts, "The only people for me are the mad ones...."

Now it's A&D Ointment twice a day for a week or two until it's healed. Then I need to get the outlines of the stars darkened.

Some unsolicited advice: Tattoos are addictive. It's hard to stop once you start. And you're pretty much stuck with it, so be sure before the needle hits skin.

Do they hurt? Yes, a little. But it's more annoying than painful. Of course, I've never done a real sensitive part of my body (yet).

Literary tattoos Redux

To read yet another article about literary tattoos, click here.

Kerouac tattoos

Check out this Kerouac tattoo! Wow! Beautiful.

I've been pondering my next ink, and a Kerouac quote has been at the top of the list for a while. I just need to decide on a place for it.

Stay tuned.

Commitment to a principle

On Thursday I completed another suggested Kerouactivity from The Beat Handbook, courtesy of my favorite tattoo artist, Chris Killingstad of Nightwind Studios in Wellsboro, PA. Thanks, Chris! I gave him a signed copy of my book, since his past artistry certainly triggered the idea for the Kerouactivity in the first place. No, the tree of life and the stars are not new - just the motto. Oh, and yes, the accomplishment's been duly noted in my personal copy.

Below is the above-referenced entry from the book.

Day 9
Today’s Kerouaction: On Freedom
To quote the movie, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, “It’s better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool.” To wit, when you are out sleeping under the stars, and no one on earth knows where you are, and your life-alienating cell phone is either turned off or, better, not with you, you can experience a rare feeling: freedom. Freedom is one of the key principles behind Kerouactions. It is so important that a little – or perhaps even a lot – of physical discomfort pales in comparison to the feeling that one is at all times and in all situations able to make a choice! The Kerouaction? Live free or die (with thanks to New Hampshire)! Right now, go up to the first person you see and give them $5.00. Tell them a book you are reading told you to do it. Or perhaps your sense of freedom tells you to tell me to take a hike. Great! You are free to choose! But always remember that. Do not blame your parents, your past, your mate, your children, events, places, or anything else for your troubles. You choose! Freedom....


Suggested Kerouactivity:
Get “Live Free or Die” tattooed somewhere on your body.

Soon after my book was published, my friend Bob walked up to me and handed me 5 bucks and said a book told him to do it. And November's book winner has reported a number of Kerouaccomplishments based on The Beat Handbook. Crystal's done some, too! At a book-signing, I was asked if I planned on completing all the Kerouactivities. I said that some of them aren't intended to be taken literally, but I was working on it. I can't very well expect my readers to follow advice in the book if I don't. It's called "walking your talk." I figure getting a tattoo is pretty strong evidence of commitment to a principle.

As you're completing Kerouactivities, please keep us all posted on your progress here at The Daily Beat.