***
I flipped to the back of the book to examine a photo of me taken just last year when I was 17 years old. Peter Black invited me to go on a field trip with his high school class to visit Upper Canada Village—a re-creation of an 1860's Canadian village located in eastern Ontario. It all started after a guitar session when Peter started questioning me about my life.
"Dude, what exactly do you do all day, anyway?"
"I'm homeschooled. You know that. What do you think I do all day long?"
"I think that you're chained to that guy you call your mentor. Aren't you just a little bit bored? I mean you live with him 24/7 in that cabin up in North Bay."
"We're not in North Bay all the time. I live down here half the time. I'm not really bored. I do martial arts and I take guitar lessons with your father. Plus, there are lots of other things I do as well."
"Oh, that's an unbelievable social life you have there, my boy," he replied sarcastically. "And apart from me, do you have any additional friends?"
I said nothing.
"What about girls? What's your love life like?"
Again, I did not reply.
"You need to get a social life and start going to school with me. You need to meet our primary reason for living—girls!"
"No," replied Scott when I mentioned the idea of enrolling in public school. "I wouldn't be able to educate you the same way. Aren't you happy with your life the way it is? Haven't I been good and treated you fair over the years we've been together?"
"You're the closest thing to a father I could have ever hoped for."
"Then why do you now want to go to public school?"
"I don't know. I guess I feel like I'm missing out on something, and now I want to be around people my own age. Peter Black invited me on a field trip that the eleventh and twelfth grade classes are going to on June 15th. That's in nine days. It's to Upper Canada Village. Would I be able to go along with him?"
"Sure. I'll have your mother contact his school and get permission for you to go."
"Also, tomorrow's my eighteenth birthday. I, ah… was wondering if for my birthday… I… ah… you know… could get a tattoo?"
"You want a tattoo for your birthday?" he replied while chuckling.
"Yeah, a lot of guys have them. What's wrong with that?"
"I didn't say there was anything wrong with it. What kind of tattoo do you want?"
"Something cool and unique that no one else has. I want a tattoo that makes a statement as to who I am."
"I'll take you downtown tomorrow and we'll shop around for one. Okay?"
I excitedly nodded my head yes.
However, after visiting several parlors, I didn't find any designs I liked. I was bummed out.
"Let me check out something and I'll get back to you," said Scott.
"Okay."
The next day he drove me to Sifu Lu Tang's academy while saying, "You said you wanted a unique tattoo; a design that no one else has and that defines who you are. Yin will be able to give you that very thing."
We entered the building and one of the senior students greeted us and led us to the private area in back. This is where I had first been lectured by my teacher over 11 years ago. There was a table set up with needles and containers of ink. I recognized it as the equipment used for the Tebori method of tattooing—a method where the ink is manually pushed under the skin by hand. I began to sweat.
"Relax," said Scott. "It isn't as painful as you're now imagining."
"I think I just changed my mind."
"Just focus your mind properly like I taught you and you'll be fine," he replied reassuringly.
Sifu Lu Tang came out to greet us accompanied by another, unfamiliar Chinese man. As usual, I bowed to show honor and respect. He returned my bow.
"You are one of my top students and you have honored me with your dedication, self-discipline, selflessness, and commitment to wushu. Today we are going to honor you. Please come over to the table."
I did and he motioned me to sit down and then instructed me to lay my left arm on the table with the palm facing up.
"There are two words I want you to always remember when you think of the teaching you have received here. They are honor and courage. These words in Chinese letters will be tattooed on your left arm and will be bracketed by the symbols of our school—the tiger and the dragon."
He spoke to the man who had accompanied him and he in turn, began to make preparations. My stomach was in knots. I breathed deeply and followed Scott's advice—focusing my mind and banishing the thoughts of pain and discomfort. Hours later, I sported a beautiful tattoo on the inside of my left arm.
"Scott has requested that we also use the same method to inscribe something on your right arm as well. I will let him explain."
Scott looked at me and immediately became emotional. "Lance, amongst my original group—and there aren't that many of us left—we have a motto that was given to us by our group leader. He said, and I quote him, 'You operatives have received the finest training and instruction in the world. You're fully capable of being able to accomplish whatever goals and objectives we assign you. You have access to the best weapons and equipment available. But always remember this one thing. When you're out in the field on a mission alone; when you're trapped and facing overwhelming odds; when your assignment is to do the impossible; your mind is your greatest weapon! Your mind is your greatest weapon!' Lance, through the many years that we've been together, I have taught you countless things in order for you to survive in this world. But I too, want you to always remember what he reminded us about that day; that your mind is your greatest weapon. I have asked Yin if he would tattoo this motto on your right arm as a permanent memento. It will also be in traditional Chinese and will be accompanied by my agency's insignia—a black stingray with a red barbed tail, circumscribed by gold stars."
"What's the significance of that symbol?" I asked.
"To put it simply and concisely, the stingray is adept at concealment in its environment. The red tail means it can draw blood if necessary. The stars are symbolic of the United States of America."
For several hours I watched him etch this tattoo on the inside of my right arm. As I stared at the finished product I was happy. Both tattoos uniquely and concisely summed up my life.