Ever since Hurricane Ian slammed Southwest Florida on Sept. 28, 2020, many people who were attached to iconic landmarks that were destroyed or impacted have, in their own special ways, paid tribute to those places and things.
Like, paintings of the Sanibel Lighthouse, which had one of its four legs detached from the historic storm surge Ian delivered. It has since been replaced.
Like, posting photos on social media of what Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel looked like before the Category 4 storm left the scars of the worst hurricane to ever hit Florida. This included the beloved Times Square clock on Fort Myers Beach that was washed away. It has also been replaced.
And, someone even created a model of the Fort Myers Beach pier using popsicle sticks.
This brings us to Tracy Deryckere. She has gone all in for her landmark tribute. The 50-year-old Deryckere, who was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, recently (March 6) had a tattoo artist draw the Fort Myers Beach pier on the inside of her left forearm.
Deryckere's body artwork is mesmerizing. We wanted to know more about. Here is a Q&A we did with her:
Where did you get your Fort Myers Beach pier tattoo?
Gypsy Soul Tattoo in Canton, Michigan. Tony Loden is the tattoo artist.
How long did it take to finish the Fort Myers Beach tattoo?
DERYCKERE: About two hours.
Did it hurt?
DERYCKERE: Not really.
Did you have an image of the Fort Myers Beach pier that the artist used?
DERYCKERE: Tony has also been to Fort Myers Beach and has seen the sunset first hand, but we did use some pictures we have taken as a reference
Is it your design?
DERYCKERE: Mine and Tony's.
What were you looking to achieve with your tattoo of the Fort Myers Beach pier?
DERYCKERE: I wanted the pier and some kind of sunset design. He (Tony) had totally creative control after that.
Why the Fort Myers Beach pier? What compelled you to get that tattoo on you arm?
DERYCKERE: Fort Myers Beach is like a second home to me. My family has lived in the Fort Myers/Cape Coral area for 35-plus years. I used to be a lifeguard for Sunsplash Water Park when they first opened and I also taught beginner spring board diving classes for Cape Coral Parks and Recreation, and also worked for the City of Sanibel Parks and Recreation. A lot of my days off were spent down on the beach. When I moved back to Michigan I still spent a lot of time down there as most of my family lives there.
Fast forward my family owed The Doghouse that was on Fort Myers Beach Next to Silver Sands. During COVID I spent the six months of shut down working there because I own a bar in Michigan and we where completely shut down. I used to love running across the street to catch the sunset over the pier. All three of my kids have fished off the pier over the last 25 years. In short, the beach and pier is very dear to my heart. After the hurricane destroyed the restaurant and the pier and 90% of the beach, I knew I wanted to get a tattoo as a remembrance of what it used to be. After much thought and conversation with Tony my tattoo guy, we came up with it.
What has been the reaction by others since you go the pier tattoo?
DERYCKERE: 90% of people love it, but in everything in life you will always get your hatersand I try and just ignore them because I love it and that is all that really matters. It has meaning to me and not everyone understands that.
Do you have any other tattoos, or is the pier tattoo your first?
DERYCKERE: I have several (LOL) other tattoos which all have a story.
What are your other tattoos?
DERYCKERE: I have about 15 others. They all have meaning behind them. Some are ones I got as a remembrance for a loved one that passed. Some I got when my children where old enough. We got matching ones. And some were tattoos my dad had and when he passed I wanted to help tell his story.
In the photo of the pier tattoo, we can see another tattoo. What is that?
DERYCKERE: It Is a different one. It is an infinity sign that says family at the bottom. I got that one with my sister and my mom. It was my mom's first tattoo about 10 years ago.
Is there anything else about this tattoo experience with the pier you'd like to share?
DERYCKERE: Just that I understand tattoos are not for everyone and that’s fine people shouldn’t judge someone with tattoos because you never know there story or the story that their tattoos tell.
What is your wish for the Fort Myers Beach pier?
DERYCKERE: I would love for them to build it back so people and families like mine can continue to enjoy it and make lots of lasting memories to share.
