Why It's a Great Idea to Get a Tattoo with a Random Stranger in Denver, Colorado
My last 48 hours in Denver were not what I expected. Reflecting on those days feels like a mirage, except I have a tattoo that will always remind me of my time in Denver and the importance of trust, even if it’s short-lived.
A few days prior, I was sitting on a rooftop at the Source Hotel and Market Hall, enjoying the 60-degree weather before the snowstorm came through. This is my ideal way to enjoy Denver: high up and staring at the mountains, not the cityscape. I’m just not a Denver girl.
As I walked through the restaurant, my eyes went straight back to the garage-door-style window because, through the slits, you could see snowcap mountains surrounding the city. I was eager to get out on that rooftop!
The restaurant finally opened its doors, and you could feel the sun's warmth beating in. It felt like 80 degrees, and I was dying in my blue turtleneck sweater. Even still, I was in my element, taking pictures of the view while these two guys sat down at a table near mine. I paid little attention to them since I was enjoying my very delicious glass of wine. Then my food came, and that's when the guys piqued my interest.
One guy said, "I live in Denver and have no idea what to recommend; I'm not a fan of Denver."
I knew deep down I would like this guy by his statement. I felt like I needed to say something, but it took me a good few minutes to inject. I kept looking over my shoulder at the guy, knowing I wanted to say something. So, after the fourth time, I looked over, I finally said, "Yeahhhh . . . I come to Denver, and I'm still not a fan!" We were chatting about places in Colorado where we wanted to live, and that's how I almost got that marriage proposal. He said to me. "I would marry you if you said the same place I plan to move to."
I immediately laughed and joked, "Well, I am single!" and I followed that up with where I wanted to move. And no, our locations didn't match. We discovered our senses of humor did match, though, so we kept chatting. I was actually surprised he asked for my number before they left for the airport. He was dropping his friend off there.
They left, and I had another yummy glass of wine and fell more in love with the view. I wanted to soak up this moment before the negative temps rolled in later that night.
On my walk back to my hostel, I wondered if he would actually text me. My track record isn't always excellent with guys; they either don't text, or they do, and it's short-lived. This is why it’s always a bad idea for a guy to pique my interest.
No, I take that back. It’s not that it isn’t always excellent; it’s that I have a terrible track record with guys.
But he did reach out, so we planned to grab drinks the next day.
Unfortunately, the next day he texted and said he was sick and had to take a rain check. When I read that text, I thought, "Yeah, yeah . . . that's probably bullshit.” But obviously, I didn't write that and wished him a speedy recovery instead. Not going to lie—I was disappointed, but I had a snow day in my hostel filled with working on Wandering Bel and finishing a book, so the day still turned out great.
The next day I asked how he was feeling, and surprisingly, we actually met up for a few drinks. And somehow (I will say it was his idea), we agreed to meet the next day for a tattoo.
If you know me, you know I am very adventurous and ballsy. But I am VERY Type A in my regular life. I am extremely particular about getting tattoos. It wasn’t until back in July that I had finally gotten my second one—17 years after my first— also in Denver. As you can see, I am slow at getting them.
And I never go with anyone; I always do things solo and prefer it that way. That is because I have been on trips with people or done things with people, and it turned out shit, or they are no longer in my life, and I just don’t want bad memories with people. I guess I made an extreme promise to myself to keep myself safe.
So I couldn't fucking believe I agreed to get a tattoo (one I'd already wanted to get on this trip but kept procrastinating) with a guy I had just met 48 hours before then! This was hitting adventurous and ballsy on a whole different level. When I told my friends what I was about to do that morning, they thought I was nuts and asked if we were getting matching tattoos, which we didn't—nor would I do that. But I was nervous about going on this adventure with another person.
I arrived first at Old Larimer Street Tattoo and talked to Johnny, the artist. Ten minutes later, the guy showed up. We chatted, and he said he had wanted to call my bluff since he didn’t think I’d show. He admitted that was why he came. Naturally, I asked him if he thought I would be a no-show. He said no but then told me his friends were shocked we were doing this. I admitted that my friends were, too, and they’d asked if we were getting matching tattoos. He told me his friends asked that too!
I did warn him that I was a bit nervous because I wanted to make sure I got the font I wanted for the tattoo. But I was also nervous for the reason I stated above.
What does the font have to do with anything, you ask? The best way to answer began a little under a year ago.
Back in July, right before I saw Halsey at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO, I got my second tattoo on my wrist—a plane. I got it because traveling brings me the most happiness. Now, each time I look at my plane tattoo, it reminds me of the best solo trip I have ever had in Colorado and the happiness of traveling!
I love my daily reminder and the smile it brings to my face, and this led me to my newest addition—the word “Trust.” I have a complicated relationship with this word, which I will get into in another post. But I have a hard time trusting myself and the universe at times. I think seeing this daily reminder may change this relationship for the better.
Don’t judge me!
After getting tattoos (and a touch-up on my plane tattoo), we grabbed a beer with his friends. This was awesome since all I knew was that I wanted to at least get a beer after this adventure.
We brewery-hopped the rest of the afternoon and talked about life, dating, tarot cards, and other random shit. He even brought me a couple of bracelets he made since he saw I wore some that were like his. I was pleasantly surprised he did that; most guys don't pick up on details like that.
One of his friends finally joined us, and we hung out until I had to return to my friend's house.
Honestly, it was the best day I have ever had in Denver and probably in the top 3, if not the number one of my random travel stories.
No, most people would not get a tattoo with a guy they had just met. I hear you, but this story's moral is that you never know what will happen on a trip. Sometimes, you need to do something that isn't "sane."
And sometimes, you just need to say, “Fuck it. Let’s go,” even if you are nervous!
I use that quote because this year, when I was making a vision board, I asked a friend of mine what I should put on it, and that was her quote for me for this year. I believe I successfully accomplished that!
Get that tattoo.
Go on that trip.
Talk to a random guy or girl.
Try that food.
Go on that tour.
Just do it.
Make more travel memories.
Make more stories.
Trust yourself.
Trust the universe.
After I got my tattoo, he said, "I didn't want to say this to you earlier; if I didn't like it, at least it's easy to cover it up!" This also applies to life. We can always cover up a bad experience with something good—or change the story!
Nothing in life is permanent, even a tattoo.
