The top row of J's is for Jesus (it's above the other row, making it heavenly), the second row is for J, my partner (to honor all that she has taught me and given me over the last 12 years...she's changed my life), built into the (lower) earthly row of J's is an ME for Melissa, who has also changed my life dramatically.  I have always had an addiction to music.  My father played guitar my entire life.  My mother would always speak of how wonderful my cousin was because she did everything right and was an incredible piano player, she even taught piano when she was a teenager (eventually got a music degree).  When I requested a piano, so I could learn to play and maybe gain my mothers affections, she would always say "Your Dad has a guitar, go learn to play it."  I tried several times, it would hurt my fingers like you know what, so I would put it down and drop the whole subject for a while.  I would bury myself in the music in my room.  They all said I was rebellious because I would lock myself in my room after school and play my records and the radio, pretty loudly for my quiet Christian home.  There were no female rock guitar players in the late 70's/early 80's that I related to.  The only guitar playing I knew was my Dad's 1940's-50's country and the loud screaming guitars from rock bands like AC/DC, Def Leppard, etc.  I had a love for the drums also, but never really learned to play them well.  Then finally Melissa came into my life.  She played the kind of rock and roll I wanted to hear and play.  She was the kind of person whose music would tell a story that brought you into the music.  I feel her music.  I hear every instrument independent of the others while still hearing them come together.  Melissa's style takes you into whatever story she is developing in the song and makes you feel it with her; the pain, the anger, the love, the peace.  That's the kind of music I wanted to learn to play.  I bought a guitar and one of her songbooks, practiced every chance I got, and loved every minute of it.  Picking up a guitar takes me to another place.  Playing along with Melissa's CD's, playing along with the whole band, it's powerful and awesome.  Royal Station is amazing to play with - talk about breaking a sweat - it's like 10 minutes long and intense! 

 Then of course, inside the guitar on my arm, is a "G" for my son.  I couldn't imagine life without him.  The pride and love I have for him compares to nothing else in life, a mother's love is the ultimate love.  He is an amazing guy and was a perfect child growing up...he is now proving to be a wonderful man.