VIDEO: The perfect hotdog stick and tattoo

Mariah Pisha Duffly of Portland sports a unique tattoo on the back of her right calf: a red hot dog on a double-pronged stick. It's a reminder of a camping trip on her first wedding anniversary. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

Mariah Pisha Duffly of Portland sports a unique tattoo on the back of her right calf: a red hot dog on a double-pronged stick. It’s a reminder of a camping trip on her first wedding anniversary. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

Tattoos are commonplace in Portland. When the warm temperatures of summer reign and skin is revealed in abundance, you see them everywhere. Full sleeves of intricate imagery creep from shoulders to elbows. Skirts hover above decorated legs and sweetheart’s names blaze across many a sternum for the world to see.

But one tattoo stood out to me, a couple of weeks back, as I made my way down Congress Street. I did a double take. Then I spun around and walked backwards a few paces before changing directions and saying hello to Mariah Pisha Duffly.

It was clearly a New England red hotdog on a two-pronged stick. I knew there must be a story behind such a singular tattoo. There was, and she agreed to tell me about it.

 

This Tattoo Tale is one in an ongoing series of stories behind some Mainer’s most personal, and permanent, artistic statements. See another tale HERE.

Mariah Pisha Duffly of Portland sports a unique tattoo on the back of her right calf: a red hot dog on a double-pronged stick. It's a reminder of a camping trip on her first wedding anniversary. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

Mariah Pisha Duffly of Portland sports a unique tattoo on the back of her right calf: a red hot dog on a double-pronged stick. It’s a reminder of a camping trip on her first wedding anniversary. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

Troy R. Bennett

About Troy R. Bennett

Troy R. Bennett is a Buxton native and longtime Portland resident whose photojournalism has appeared in media outlets all over the world.