Mo in his Tattoo shop in TorC, New Mexico. Picture by me, april 2013.
This is Mo. Mo is a tattoo artist and runs Mo’s Tattoos in the town Truth or Consequences (known to most locals as TorC) in New Mexico. Mo is directly descendant from Geronimo’s sister. Mo once found a mammoth. And thanks to Mo I now have a lizard on my arm.
Back in April 2013 Charlene and I stumbled onto Mo’s Tattoo shop while we were in TorC. We went in, had a long chat with Mo and saw his beautiful artwork. I have for many years been wanting a tattoo and was so tempted right there and then, but we were leaving town that day so I decided that the next time I was there I would get my first tattoo from Mo.
I decided some years ago my first tattoo would be a lizard sitting on my arm. Why a lizard? I have been fascinated with lizards ever since I was a kid. At one point I entertained this idea of having a pet lizard. I remember some giant lizards on a beach in Journey to the center of the Earth. After going nomad over 5 years ago, I have encountered lizards in so many different locations. They can live in varied conditions, some of them even live under the sand in the dunes of Namibia, and this ability to adapt appeals to me as a traveler. Also, I just happen to think they’re really cool and that is a good enough reason for me. And they’re small so they fit on my bicep!
Based on an image of a lizard I brought along, Mo made a few sketches and when I was happy with the outline, Mo got the gear ready and I got ready by well, excitedly sitting down. I have a fairly high tolerance for pain (I gotta say that, right!) but was still curious as to what it would feel like. Also, I bruise easily, I was expecting my arm to be blue for a week. I was surprised how painless it was (again, gotta say that, but it is true!) and Mo made it a very easy process. I have had no problems with the tattoo either, no bleeding, no swelling, no bruising and no itching. It was so much easier than I thought.
A lizard in the making. Picture by Charlene Winfred.
Mo spins so many interesting stories it’s easy to forget you are having a needle repeatedly shot into your arm. For example, his grandmother often housed Billy the Kid when The Kid needed a place to hide. And this summer Mo and his wife found a mammoth tusk while out hiking. Many stories were swapped and while Mo worked, Charlene took pictures and assured me it looked awesome. The 45 minutes or so of tattooing flew by and finally, I got to meet my lizard in a mirror.
Happy! Me and my lizard. Picture by Charlene Winfred.
I never did get a pet lizard as a kid, but I love my tattoo version! Mo did a wonderful job, I am very pleased with the result and it was so easy. I am hooked on more tattoos. If you are near TorC in New Mexico and want a high quality tattoo at a great price, or get a piercing or buy an earring or just have a good chat, you have to go say hi to the awesome Mo.
My lizard. It’s a little fuzzy as I think it’s shedding it’s skin or maybe I am. Picture by Charlene Winfred.
Ok, Mo has a few more tattoos than me but it’s a start. Picture by Charlene.
