---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had a tattoo once,” said Kaidan. “Last…"
description: "\"“I had a tattoo once,” said Kaidan. “Last year, just before we left England.” “What do you mean, you had one 'once'?” “Bloody thing was gone by the mor..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/wendy-higgins-2152_last-year_i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-yea_288076.jpg"
---

#  I had a tattoo once,” said Kaidan. “Last year, just before…

![“I had a tattoo once,” said Kaidan. “Last year, just before we left England.” “What do you mean, you had one 'once'?” “Bloody thing was gone by the morning!” His voice was indignant. “Sheets were black with ink. I put myself through all of that for hours, and my body just pushed it back out!” And…” quote by Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/wendy-higgins-2152_last-year_i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-yea_288076.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/wendy-higgins-2152_last-year_i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-yea_288076.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/wendy-higgins-2152_last-year_i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-yea_288076.jpg)

> ““I had a tattoo once,” said Kaidan. “Last year, just before we left England.” “What do you mean, you had one 'once'?” “Bloody thing was gone by the morning!” His voice was indignant. “Sheets were black with ink. I put myself through all of that for hours, and my body just pushed it back out!” And once again we were both in a fit of hysterics, sharing the world's best inside joke. We were doubled over, unable to breathe, and I accidentally snorted. Kaidan pointed at me and laughed harder, clutching his stomach. “What was your tattoo?” I managed to push the words out. “You had to ask. It was a deadly-looking pair of black wings on my shoulder blades.” Kaidan and I started roaring again, muscles clenching from the exertion. We had no way of knowing it would be our last reason to laugh for a very long time.””

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A fleeting, absurd moment of humor highlights how people cling to ridiculous experiences for comfort during hardship.

**In simple terms:** People laugh at absurdity to cope with pain.

Key Takeaway

Find humor in absurd moments.

Themes

humor coping friendship

Mood

lighthearted reflective

Type

anecdotal conversational

When to use this quote

- stressful gatherings
- long trips
- personal loss
- bonding over jokes

Key Concepts

absurdity shared experience temporary relief

Questions to Reflect On

- What absurd memory helps you endure tough times?
- How does shared laughter affect relationships?

A Different Perspective

Humor may mask deeper issues needing attention.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“Give me your knife." I said again. ... Kaidan lay there with a whismsical sort of look and said, "Gosh, that was hot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/give-me-your-knife-i-said-again-kaidan-lay-there-with-a-whismsical/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Here he comes,” Blake said. When Kaidan climbed the steps to the deck he came straight for me, his hair slicked back with sweat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/here-he-comes-blake-said-when-kaidan-climbed-the-steps-to-the-deck-he/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Let us go somewhere and talk,” Kopano said to Kaidan. “We can talk here. She never uses her senses.” Whoops. I was officially eavesdropping,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/let-us-go-somewhere-and-talk-kopano-said-to-kaidan-we-can-talk-here/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Noooooo!Noooooo! Noooooooo!” I rubbed my hand against the sheet till the skin turned red and sore.But all the rubbing and scrubbing wouldn’t make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shuchi-singh-kalra/noooooo-noooooo-noooooooo-i-rubbed-my-hand-against-the-sheet-till-the/)

[Shuchi Singh Kalra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shuchi-singh-kalra/)

> [“So, how’d you get the tattoo?” she said. “Drunken frat boys don’t say no to things their drunken frat brothers are telling them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-morris/so-how-d-you-get-the-tattoo-she-said-drunken-frat-boys-don-t-say-no/)

[Linda Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-morris/)

> [“What is that?” I asked, squinting at the vertical symbols. “It’s Hebrew,” Travis smiled. “What does it mean?” “It says, ‘I belong to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/what-is-that-i-asked-squinting-at-the-vertical-symbols-it-s-hebrew/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“The arbutus is now open everywhere in the woods and groves. How pleasant it is to meet the same flowers year after year! If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fenimore-cooper/the-arbutus-is-now-open-everywhere-in-the-woods-and-groves-how/)

Susan Fenimore Cooper

> [Well, as you know, General Motors does not make hybrids. Ford only made 4,000 hybrids last year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-markey/well-as-you-know-general-motors-does-not-make-hybrids-ford-only-made/)

[Ed Markey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-markey/)

> [We have reached the point where we can lose a game or two and not drop out of sight in the rankings. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavell-edwards/we-have-reached-the-point-where-we-can-lose-a-game-or-two-and-not/)

[LaVell Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavell-edwards/)

> [ \[Fighting for equality for women\] that's what my mission has been for the last years. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/fighting-for-equality-for-women-that-s-what-my-mission-has-been-for/)

[Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/)

> [So, in the last year, the whole cast sued for release from our contracts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/so-in-the-last-year-the-whole-cast-sued-for-release-from-our-contracts/)

[Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/)

> [Memories seem to surface in no particular order, with no time attached. Yesterday can seem as distant as last year. My life now consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-olsson/memories-seem-to-surface-in-no-particular-order-with-no-time-attached/)

[Linda Olsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-olsson/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

> [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/)

Buck Martinez

> [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/)

M.I.A

## More by Wendy Higgins

> [“I tried to warn you, But girls never listen. Got your innocence insured? ’Cause it’s ’bout to be stolen Right out from under your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-tried-to-warn-you-but-girls-never-listen-got-your-innocence-insured/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“I stole glances at Kaidan's bare skin while the others were busy talking. That's my boyfriend right there, I silently announced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-stole-glances-at-kaidan-s-bare-skin-while-the-others-were-busy/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Self-pity was like wearing a wool jacket in the sweltering heat, and I wanted it gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/self-pity-was-like-wearing-a-wool-jacket-in-the-sweltering-heat-and-i/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Tequila, anyone?” he asked our group, but his eyes were on me. “Hell, yeah, K, break it out,” Blake said. I tried to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/tequila-anyone-he-asked-our-group-but-his-eyes-were-on-me-hell-yeah-k/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Let me undress you. Not all the way...just as you were today at Blake's. Please. Let me see you again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/let-me-undress-you-not-all-the-way-just-as-you-were-today-at-blake-s/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Supposedly Kaidan’s having a difficult time ’cause he can’t say swear words in every sentence,” Marna said with a smile. “He’s determined to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/supposedly-kaidan-s-having-a-difficult-time-cause-he-can-t-say-swear/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“How people’s passionate beliefs, often about similar things, just with different names, can drive such a fervent wedge between cultures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/how-people-s-passionate-beliefs-often-about-similar-things-just-with/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“I'm going to marry you someday, Brooke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-m-going-to-marry-you-someday-brooke/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“This is my friend Veronica,” I told him. “And this is Kaidan.” “Oh, I've heard all about you.” Veronica gave him a big smile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/this-is-my-friend-veronica-i-told-him-and-this-is-kaidan-oh-i-ve/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [ “Have you ever cheated on a girlfriend? Jay squinted at her. "No. I wouldn't." "You would." she \[Ginger\] corrected him. "Everyone cheats." "That's not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/have-you-ever-cheated-on-a-girlfriend-jay-squinted-at-her-no-i-wouldn/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Well, I don’t know about you girls,” Patti called out, “but I’m starving. You wanna help me throw everything together before I go check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/well-i-don-t-know-about-you-girls-patti-called-out-but-i-m-starving/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“I wondered what kind of sexy getup Kaidan would be wearing. Maybe Adam in a loincloth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-wondered-what-kind-of-sexy-getup-kaidan-would-be-wearing-maybe-adam/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“I stood with my arms crossed, scanning the crowd. My eyes hated on a very tall gorilla looking in our direction. He bore a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-stood-with-my-arms-crossed-scanning-the-crowd-my-eyes-hated-on-a/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“Shoes. I needed to get on my tennis shoes. I scrambled through my things on the floor and found them, shoving my feet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/shoes-i-needed-to-get-on-my-tennis-shoes-i-scrambled-through-my/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [“He froze. “I . . .” Then, as he searched my face with wonder, he slid from his seat and down to one knee. “My sweet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/he-froze-i-then-as-he-searched-my-face-with-wonder-he-slid-from-his/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

[Explore all 180 Wendy Higgins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

## More Last year quotes

> [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/)

M.I.A

> [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/)

Buck Martinez

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

> [Memories seem to surface in no particular order, with no time attached. Yesterday can seem as distant as last year. My life now consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-olsson/memories-seem-to-surface-in-no-particular-order-with-no-time-attached/)

[Linda Olsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-olsson/)

> [So, in the last year, the whole cast sued for release from our contracts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/so-in-the-last-year-the-whole-cast-sued-for-release-from-our-contracts/)

[Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/)

> [ \[Fighting for equality for women\] that's what my mission has been for the last years. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/fighting-for-equality-for-women-that-s-what-my-mission-has-been-for/)

[Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/)

> [We have reached the point where we can lose a game or two and not drop out of sight in the rankings. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavell-edwards/we-have-reached-the-point-where-we-can-lose-a-game-or-two-and-not/)

[LaVell Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavell-edwards/)

> [Well, as you know, General Motors does not make hybrids. Ford only made 4,000 hybrids last year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-markey/well-as-you-know-general-motors-does-not-make-hybrids-ford-only-made/)

[Ed Markey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-markey/)

> [“The arbutus is now open everywhere in the woods and groves. How pleasant it is to meet the same flowers year after year! If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fenimore-cooper/the-arbutus-is-now-open-everywhere-in-the-woods-and-groves-how/)

Susan Fenimore Cooper

> [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [The terrorists who committed the 2003 Istanbul attacks were locals, that is, Turks. And when filmmaker Theo van Gogh was murdered in the Netherlands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/the-terrorists-who-committed-the-2003-istanbul-attacks-were-locals/)

[Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/)

> [“Leonardo believed his research had the potential to convert millions to a more spiritual life. Last year he categorically proved the existence of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/leonardo-believed-his-research-had-the-potential-to-convert-millions/)

[Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/)

> [As our initial click fraud research study showed last year, there is an obvious problem in the online advertising world. The challenge is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flint-mcglaughlin/as-our-initial-click-fraud-research-study-showed-last-year-there-is/)

Flint McGlaughlin

> [From '86 until the summer of last year, wherever I went, people would say, You would have made a great James Bond! Weren't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/from-86-until-the-summer-of-last-year-wherever-i-went-people-would/)

[Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/)

> [With the absence of a flu vaccination last year, I did not take a flu shot; but there is still some immunity that carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-the-absence-of-a-flu-vaccination-last-year-i-did-not-take-a-flu/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

Browse all 1,393 Last year quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I had a tattoo once,” said Kaidan. “Last year, just before we left England.” “What do you mean, you had one 'once'?” “Bloody thing was gone by the morning!” His voice was indignant. “Sheets were black with ink. I put myself through all of that for hours, and my body just pushed it back out!” And once again we were both in a fit of hysterics, sharing the world's best inside joke. We were doubled over, unable to breathe, and I accidentally snorted. Kaidan pointed at me and laughed harder, clutching his stomach. “What was your tattoo?” I managed to push the words out. “You had to ask. It was a deadly-looking pair of black wings on my shoulder blades.” Kaidan and I started roaring again, muscles clenching from the exertion. We had no way of knowing it would be our last reason to laugh for a very long time.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Wendy Higgins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-year-just-before-we-left-england/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Last year"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-year-just-before-we-left-england/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/wendy-higgins-2152_last-year_i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-yea_288076.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/wendy-higgins-2152_last-year_i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-yea_288076.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/wendy-higgins-2152_last-year_i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-yea_288076.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I had a tattoo once,” said Kaidan. “Last year, just before we left England.” “What do you mean, you had one…” — Wendy Higgins",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Wendy Higgins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I had a tattoo once,” said...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-year-just-before-we-left-england/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-had-a-tattoo-once-said-kaidan-last-year-just-before-we-left-england/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
