Tattoos-The Meaning Behind the Ink

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At the New Year’s Eve party this year the topic of tattoos came up. A good male friend of mine was like, “how many do you have now.” I said, “I have five.” He just shook his head saying he had gotten his second and was planning a third, but wasn’t going to be able to keep up with me. Now it is not an actual race, but when I started my tattoo journey a year ago, he was inspired to finally get his first tattoo because of the meaning. What do I mean by this?

Not all tattoos are mistakes done on an evening of heavy drinking where you stumble into a late night tattoo shop. While you will run into a few who did it by mistake or thought the picture of it was cool, you will find most people who adorn themselves in ink do so because there is deep felt meaning to that person and that person alone for what the ink or tattoo represents. Tattooing has been around for thousand of years with many of the early cultures using them as rites of passage and to recognize status in a tribe. Many cultural artists are still around doing the work of their ancestors, however, in most cases the methods have been brought up to the current century due to health standards and government laws.

I had always wanted a tattoo for years, but for most of my life I never got one because others said I shouldn’t. However, when I found something I was truly passionate for, it was almost like I couldn’t help myself from pulling that passion from within to the skin. Last year I did a blog called “Souvenirs That Last A Lifetime”. It goes into a description about my first tattoos and the meaning behind them. In October of 2015, I had the pleasure of taking my son to Australia and New Zealand and it was here that we shared a special bond by getting traditional Maori tattoos done in Rotorua.

We had them done by J.P., a Maori, at Whakarewarewa The Living Maori Village. The process began with an interview by J. P.. He then did a drawing based on the things he drew from our interview that were special and held meaning for us. Before he began the inking process he performed a traditional Maori blessing over each of us. I can’t even express in words the feelings that come over me when I am allowed to immerse myself in another’s culture. He gave me a print copy of what is etched upon my upper left arm. (seen below) A tattoo on the left generally will represent family. The swirls (as I call them) represent the people.

The meaning behind my tattoo…..

The main interlocking swirls located in the center of the tattoo represents my mother and father.

If you follow them to the upper right you will see to smaller swirls(hooks) interlocked. Those are my grandparents on each side. In addition you will see 3 individual swirls located on the upper end of the tattoo. These represent my niece and my two nephews.

If you follow the main center swirl down to the bottom, the longest swirl represents me. The single swirl just under my parents is my sister. Coming off of my long swirl you will see a swish with two curls and those represent my daughters, while the single one represents my son.

At the very bottom of the tattoo you will see a small swirl linked (overlapped) with my swirl. The small swirl represents a very special friend and our bond. The friend restored my hope and faith in the existence of good people and made me believe again. These are gifts I will be eternally grateful for.

The swirls are surrounded by other symbols FOR BLESSINGS AND PROTECTION
The ocean waves represent good HEALTH, VITALITY, and CLEANSING
The mountains represent paying RESPECT TO NATURE, the land of your births, and your travels
The >>>> represent ABUNDANCE, DIRECTION, FREEDOM, and TRAVEL
The ////\\\\//// weaving pattern represents close knit FAMILY and loved ones
The ))))) represent GOOD vibes, for only good things to come to my LIFE, HAPPINESS, LOVE, ABUNDANCE and FREEDOM.

My son’s tattoo photographed above has similar meaning. The swirls represent the important people in his life. Represented upon his shoulder are his dad, myself, his siblings, his cousins, his baseball coach, and his two closest baseball teammates. The other symbols will follow the descriptions listed above. It was a special afternoon we shared, not soon to be forgotten.

You see, for me, my tattoos are so much more than ink on my body. They have spent a long time in the waiting and making, and each has been done to represent my passions in life.


Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI. 

She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds.  Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind.  She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember.  With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.

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Travel Insurance-Why You Should Purchase It!

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Travel Insurance-Why You Should Purchase It!

Travel Insurance is what I refer to as “peace of mind money”. Imagine you have saved for a year or years for this once in a lifetime trip, then the unthinkable happens, you are not able to go. What do you do now? In most cases, your savings are lost! Granted some airlines, tour companies, etc. may be feeling nice on the day you have to cancel, but for the most part you are out not only your trip, but everything you invested in it.

What does Travel Insurance Cover?

Most insurances have coverage for the following items:
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Trip Delay
Baggage Loss/Delay
Medical Expenses
Emergency Evacuation

Coverages will vary depending on the policy purchased. It is good to ask questions of the policy coverage. Also, most travel insurance policies will cover things that your credit card, medical or homeowner’s insurances do not. And, it is always best to purchase sooner than later from the time of booking your trip. In most cases we recommend the insurance be purchased within 14 days of your trip deposit. If you add onto your trip, or make changes, insurance policies can be modified to cover the cost changes.

How do I purchase it?

Begin by speaking with your travel consultant. Coverage is typically obtained either via the tour operator/cruise line or through a travel insurance company such as Travel Guard. Our preferred coverage is using a third party such as Travel Guard because they deal with and only with insurance. We will send you a quote directly from their offices. They are available to speak with you to go over the quote we send, so you can make an educated decision if the coverage is right for you. Which route you choose to go will often depend on your destination, the policy coverages, cost of trip and the ages of passengers.

While travel consultants are not insurance agents, we can steer you in the right direction. As a travel consultant myself, I can tell you I never pack my bags without it! I even purchase it for my flight only reservations.

Don’t want to purchase? If you choose to go against our advice, that’s ok, but be prepared to sign a form saying you have declined coverage.


Andrea Ward is an independent travel consultant of Boomerang Escapes, who is based in Wisconsin.

She has been planning vacation escapes for the company since 2013 and specializes in Caribbean Destinations. Her primary focus is on the all-inclusive vacation experience for adult or family getaways for individuals and small groups. Sandals and AMResorts are among the specialist certificates she holds.


Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI. 

She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds.  Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind.  She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember.  With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.

Lisa RossmeisslTravel Insurance-Why You Should Purchase It!
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Lucky Food Tradition

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As the old year closed and the new year began, I was reminded of one thing, traditions! My eldest daughter, Greta, said,

“Traditions are the BEST part of the holidays.”

I look back over Christmas and New Year and we indeed have established our traditions that have been passed down through the generations. The generations have been influenced by culture and religion over the course of hundreds of years.

For us, Christmas Eve would not be the same without a venison tenderloin dinner that proceeds midnight Mass. After midnight Mass, the evening would not be complete without opening the first gift from Santa, inevitably a pair of new pajamas. And what would Christmas morning be without filled stockings with all the favorites: toothbrush, floss, Chapstick, nuts, and gum. The morning unwrapping is always followed by a breakfast of “German eggs”. For us, that is soft boiled eggs eaten from our eierbecher that we collected on a trip to Germany. It also has become a tradition each year to ring in the New Year with our friends, the Farlers, at their annual soup party. Following this, no New Year would be complete without spending the first day of the year with our friends, the Mullins, for the “lucky cabbage rolls”.

The tradition of lucky foods eaten on the first day of the new year is throughout all cultures and countries across the world.

Many foods are eaten on this day to bring prosperity and good health. In Spain, you will find them eating grapes at midnight and drinking champagne, as the sweetness or tartness predicts the New Year. A U.S. southern tradition is the eating of black eyed peas for humility and the inviting of good fortune. In Italy, you will find them eating lentils. The abundance of the tiny little grains symbolizes wealth for the coming year. Circular items are a tradition as well. It means, “Coming full circle”, and it is a gift of luck. Sticking with the circular theme, anything shaped like a coin or even a coin baked within a cake is said to bring abundance of wealth and good luck for the New Year. Noodles are eaten in the east for good luck, where in Japan the buckwheat noodles are said to bring longevity. Many foods across many nations are eaten year after year as a tradition to bless the New Year.

At our annual lucky food feast, we eat the Mullins’ cabbage rolls, a recipe passed down by them over the years. The rolls consist of green cabbage filled with a meat and rice filling, topped with a tomato sauce. These are all things meant to bless the year with good fortune. Along side the cabbage rolls you will find collard greens, black eyed peas, corn bread, ham and/or pork, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese with loads of other desserts and goodies that the friends have pitched in to bring good luck, fortune, and health to our group. For me, I think the best part of all these traditions, is that they are done with family, friends, and friends who are family. That right there, my friends, is all the good fortune you need!


Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI. 

She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds.  Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind.  She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember.  With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.

Lisa RossmeisslLucky Food Tradition
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