Molon Labe!

The paths we take do not always lead us to where we want to go, but sometimes they lead us where we need to go. Sometimes they also make us realize we should turn around and find a different path altogether.

All of them tell about various chapters of our lives or reveal moments along a wayward path we may be on. Each path we make our own, personalizing it, and leaving behind something that wasn’t there before. We may not always know if the ripple we have created turns into a tsunami or fades into the shoreline peacefully, but we always create a ripple. We meet various people along the way; those that teach us lessons, allow us to help them with theirs, or those that leave footprints on our hearts forever.

I just happen to make some of the best of my favorite moments forever indelible with skin ink. By the time my story is over, the passages may have faded, but to know one has truly lived? That is the most precious gift of all. My life is for the world to see anyway; it only makes sense that I paint on my life’s canvas and each tattoo floods down memories upon its viewing …or when I am being asked about it. Every person who asks about my ink, however, always asks about this one. This one ALWAYS brings tears to my eyes because it is the one I got in memorial of my greatest human friend, Mark Higgins.

To know Mark was to instantly fall in love with him. I’m not talking about romantic love. You fell in love with his radiant smile, quick wit, and way of simply making you feel like everything was going to be okay. Once you heard it, you would always remember his laugh. To this day, I can hear him giggle in that all-knowing yet carefree way of his… and I would do anything to hear it again, even if just for a moment.

Mark was my best friend, a brother from another mother, mentor, co-Minion-conspirator, range buddy, training student, inspiration…and stark reminder that tomorrow is never promised, but a gift to be joyful over.

During his fight against cancer, he desperately wanted to get a tattoo – both his first and last. He wanted these words inked over his heart: Molon Labe. When I asked him why, he responded, “Because F**k Cancer.” You see, Molon Labe is the Spartan battle cry for “Come and Take”, meaning to never go down without a fight; an act of defiance. That is EXACTLY who Mark was – a fighter. He came to America as a professional fighter and then settled down after his career into engineering, Schutzhund dog training, grilling out with friends… and then for the fight literally of his life: against cancer. Cancer came unannounced and uninvited, as is its way.

His final dream would never be fulfilled. The cancer took over his body and his light slowly dimmed. I witnessed the power fade, visiting often while he was in hospital with my certified Therapy Dogs, taking him out in between those hospital stays to movies, shopping, or simply a drive around town. His body was the traitor; his mind never stopped fighting. His smile stayed ready, even if wavering with pain some days. His hope stayed pure, knowing here or in the next life, peace would come.

The final day that I saw him in hospice he told me once again, in a whisper, “Molon Labe, Jules, Molon Labe,” and then drifted into a fitful sleep as the pain medication dripped into his IV to make him more comfortable. He was withered away and the Mark I knew finally gave up. I kissed him on his forehead, squeezed his hand, and repeated, “Molon Labe, Markie.” His fight would end less than 72hrs later, before I could see him again.

Mark came into my world while I was at my worst and brought me back to life. Over the many years that we knew each other, he was the one constant in my life, as others came and went, including “family” - reminding me that there is always more than what is in front of you and that you can always change your path and head in a different direction.

He reminded me that Life is so very, very precious and can be taken away without a lot of notice; that Friendship matters; that Hope, in all of its glory, doesn’t always win but that Faith, whatever your beliefs, can ease your pain.

So I embellished on his desired tattoo. Above the words Molon Labe, is an EKG with a heart as one of its beats before it tapers into asystole, where a beautiful butterfly then takes flight, a transformation into the next adventure. Yeah, Mark, I turned you into a butterfly. I can hear your giggle once again.