2022-07-21 - Butt Tattoos

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Photo of Mikaere's bare toes sunk into the black sand of a beach, some driftwood off to the side. It's afternoon in Gray Harbor, so must be fairly early in the morning in Auckland.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Flying down south this afternoon, so drove out to Whatipu this morning. It's FREEZING, but beautiful. Wish I could show you.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Oh this is the beach from your mind! Glad you got to get out there for a visit. How's it going? How long is the flight today?

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Yes!

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : More photos. It's a very pretty beach, even if the weather is pretty grey and cold.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Yeah, it's been nice to be back. Lots of things to see. Flight's only 90 minutes or so, but it's a three hour drive at the other end, so it'll be a long day.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : How's everything in GH? More kayaking today?

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Oof. It seems like it would be weird to land and have it be the middle of winter.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Day off—art class instead. But I was gonna tell you, kayaking on the Copalis the other day…you know the ghost forest place? It was like it was flickering in and out of the here and now.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : So I want to go back and check it out with someone else soon.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : It's super weird. Never really had that, travelling the other direction. I knew it'd be winter, but... still an adjustment. I forgot how cold ma's house can be too. So draughty.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Wait, really? Like you were teetering on the edge of something? I've never experienced that before. Any idea what was going on?

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Like it was the old forest before it got drowned in the earthquake, kind of superimposed, if that makes sense. New to me!

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : So that’s what’s up here. Otherwise pretty quiet.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Weird! But super cool. Time slip? I wonder if that's even a thing. I've never heard of it.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Quiet is good. Things were pretty intense for a while.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Maybe your mom knows?

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : I'll ask her. And if she doesn't, maybe the tohunga at the marae will.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Yeah for real. What’s the marae?

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : A marae is a communal house, I guess. It's the meeting place of the iwi, so in this case, my ancestral tribe.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Ahh. So everything starts tonight?

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Well, I meet them tonight. It feels a bit like... is it weird that I'm nervous about it? I don't know. They'll welcome me back, mostly, and they'll decree my readiness or not. Then tomorrow, all going well, we'll head up the coast to Whakariki for the real ceremonies.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : I was gonna ask how you’re feeling about it.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : If we're being honest?

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : I'm terrified.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Really? Why? You wouldn’t be there if you weren’t ready.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Logically I know that. It's more... I think because of all I don't know, because no one gives a full description of it. I'm opening myself up to the spirits, at the (to use GH parlance) thinnest spot on the south island.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Okay yeah that’s a little nerve wracking.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Good luck? That doesn’t seem like the right thing to say exactly.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Also, you know, bone chisels.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : It doesn't, but I'll take it anyway. I'm sure it'll be fine? It's not like I'm the first person to do this. It's tradition. It'll be fine.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : I’m trying to come up with an inappropriate joke about bone chisels but nope those definitely sound terrifying.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : LOL. Well, depending on what they decide on for my tattoos, mine might include what is called 'raperape', so...

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Oh man not helping

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : I would Google but I’m scared what I might find.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Something like this.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : NGL, pretty weirded out knowing my skin is going to look completely different in a few days.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : OH MY GOD IT’S A BUTT TATTOO

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : AMAZING

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : 😆 😆

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Yes. And that's a distinct possibility.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : I might be ogling that photo just a little bit.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : So you'd ogle me too?

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Uh yes

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : How is that even a question

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : There's some women who wouldn't!

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : So, you know. I'm glad.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Well I do not understand said women because hello that's pretty hot.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : I would like to say a lot to that, and I would, but ma is right there and she's smirking at me.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : (She says 'say hello to Jules for me'.)

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : HAH. Well I look forward to seeing your bone chiseled rape rape butt tattoo...which I cannot type without giggling madly fyi.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Say hi back!

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : I just laughed out loud, so, you know.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Mission accomplished!

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Devil woman. <3

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Let me know how everything goes...you know, when it's the appropriate time and all <3 PS I dare you to call it a butt tattoo at some point.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : I will, I promise. I don't know how much I'll be able to keep in touch, but I'll text when I can.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : What, to you, to the tohunga? To ma?

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : To somebody there during this whole process!

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : 😆

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : During the super serious, quasi-religious ceremonies?

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : 'Make my butt tattoo look good, please. There's a girl who really cares about my ass.'

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Yes that's totally the right time for it, obvs. ...ahahahaha

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : EXACTLY. You got this!

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : I'm a natural, obvs.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : More seriously...I hope everything goes well. Miss you, but I'm glad you're getting to do this!

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Miss you too. It's good to be here, but it's weird too.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Ma's making noises about getting moving. I'll keep in touch, okay?

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : I bet -- it's been awhile! Ok. Safe travels and elder meetings and hopefully bone chiseling.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : <3 And report back on your ghost forest adventures! I want to hear about all the things I'm missing.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Will do.