Hello, everyone and thanks for reading my story. This is a tale like none other (well maybe it is, but for the purpose of this conversation, we'll say it is like none other). My journey, like most other great journeys, begins in the dreadfully small town of Ontario, OR. I'm 18 years old and a pretty big fan of body modifications. To start off with, I have a hole in each ear; I had a hole in my nose, which I had to take out due to complications. My story would be the one in the nose piercing section called something like "My Right Nostil Piercing- Will Childbirth Hurt This Bad?" And as of April 2nd, 2002, I have my standard navel pierced. The story of how this occurred is quite delectable in nature, so gather round the magical carpet, children, and open yours ears to the musical sound of piercing goodness.
At A Glance Author jeannie beanie Contact ceres_rose@hotmail.com When A week ago Artist David Studio New Moon Tattoo Location Boise, Idaho My mother, who I soon hope to be on speaking terms with one of these days, and I drove an hour to Boise, Idaho to get my navel pierced. We didn't really trust anyone in the Oregon area, so this is why I chose Boise. I was really nervous the entire time, but I forced myself to eat. I read horror stories of people not eating beforehand and fainting in the studio. So after a terrific vegetarian dinner at the Chinese Grand Buffet, the mother and I headed over to New Moon Tattoo. I might add it was very difficult in nature finding that place, and I nearly ran over three squirrels trying to do so.
So yeah, we entered the place and there were two girls in there, watching their friend get a tattoo. I found out one of them had been traveling with the Rainbow People, which I guess is an infamous parade of animal rights activists and such. Don't quote me on it... So anyway, the girl who was traveling with the Rainbow People was of much comfort to me, assuring me that the piercing wouldn't hurt too badly. I told the guy at the front desk that I was ready, so after signing the papers that say "I won't sue your pants off if my navel implodes," I was ready to go. He said, "Okay, come on back, Dave is ready for you."
At this point, I guess the proper thing would have been to stand up and follow the guy at the front desk. Instead, I just gritted my teeth and tried to dig my hands into the couch, so as to attach myself to it and refuse to move. He raised his eyebrows quizzically and looked a little impatient, so I reluctantly stood up and went to the back room. Dave, the piercer, was pretty nice and did his best to put me at ease. I rolled up my shirt and he made a dot of ink on my navel where he was going to pierce it. He asked me if it was okay, and I said "Yeah" without looking because I was shaky and frightened. (By the way, I don't recommend consenting without looking). I laid down on a bed-type thing, breathing in and out slowly. Before I knew it, I guess Dave had slid the needle through and secured the ring and bead on the piercing. I didn't really notice, it felt like someone tapping my stomach. I had my rosary cross necklace with me, so I looked down at it. I had squeezed it so h ard that I'd broken it, and the cross was dangling off.
At about this time, I heard a noticeable "Uh oh" at which I freaked out and my eyes grew wide as melons. "What's wrong?" I shouted in my spazz-like manner. "Oh, it's too shallow," he answered with a frown. "Why don't you take it out, wait two weeks, and I'll re-pierce it for you."
Extremely disappointed, I looked at my navel in the mirror for the last time before letting him take out the ring. It looked really cute, it was a steel CBR with a little blue bead, and for that one moment in time, I loved it. And then I sat back down, had it removed, and went back to my normal, non-pierced navel self. I guess Dave explained that I was too skinny and my navel was too flat, and that's why he had missed and made the piercing too shallow.
"I'll eat a burger before I come next time," I said sarcastically, and I left.
ONE WEEK AND SIX DAYS LATER...
The initial first piercing did not hurt, but it was sore a couple days afterward. No biggie though. One week and six days later, I decided to violate my navel again and return to the piercing shop. It was the same procedure again basically, and once again I clawed the hell out of the couch before entering the back room. I was even more nervous than the first time, because I knew the needle would hurt more passing through the scar tissue.
This time around, I didn't lay down completely, because of my exhaustingly small navel, but I was sort of reclined. Dave told me to take deep breaths again, and I did, anticipating the pain with eyes shut so tightly, I thought my iris and cornea would crumble. And I felt the needle. Boy, did I feel it. It was a sharp stingy sensation, but I actually don't remember much of that now. All I remember is that it felt kind of unusual, but nothing devastating. It was no where near in comparison to the pain I felt when I pierced my nose. I felt pressure when he was putting the ring ends into the ball. He told me all the aftercare instructions and since I had gone through all the pain and suffering the first time, the piercing was free of charge. W00t! I danced circles of joy with visions of sugar plum fairies dancing in my head.
I went on my way, and it didn't hurt at all. At first. The day after, and about two days following it, my belly hurt very much so. On top of all this, I had to work at my greasy fast food restaurant, lifting boxes and bending every which way to get paid for my work. But right now, it doesn't feel too bad. I've been cleaning it twice a day with Satin soap and doing sea salt soaks, usually twice a day. No problems so far, except when I habitually slam my stomach against counters and when I decide for no reason to roll over in my sleep. Now THAT hurts. I think that thus concludes my terrifically informative and complicated piercing process. If anyone has any questions or nice comments, feel free to email me, ceres_rose@hotmail.com or jeannie_h@yahoo.com . Those are also my screen names. So yeah, okay take care and play it safe! Nibb High football rules...