My mom was always really strict about what I could I do with my body. I was always dressed very conservatively when I went to school, and body piercings were totally out of the question. Although I went along with it, I did my best to let my personality shine through the dull clothes.
At A Glance Author Denice Contact denicemiller86@sbcglobal.net When A year ago Artist Andrea Studio Pangea Location Ann Arbor, MI I've wanted to have my belly button pierced since I was four. I remember watching belly dancers and thinking that their body jewelry was one of the prettiest things I had ever seen. I always hinted to my mom that when I turned eighteen, that I would get my navel pierced. She always replied with a resounding "no."
Three months before I turned eighteen, my mom kicked me out of the house. I was living with my aunt and trying to finish high school. There was a ton of stress in my life, and I have to admit that I was feeling quite rebellious on the weekends. I always joked with my boyfriend that I was gonna get plastered and then pierce my navel myself. I never would have, but it seemed funny at the time.
One week after graduation, I decided that it was time. I called my boyfriend and asked if he'd go. He's terrified of needles, so he agreed to sit in the waiting room. I live in Ann Arbor, so I had a good idea of all of the piercing places. I called almost all of them, and the all seemed okay, but not that concerned about being clean. When I called Pangaea, I got a really nice lady who told me all about the place. The artist, Andrea, had been a dental assistant before she opened the parlor. She also told me all about the procedure, which made me feel much better.
Now, I have to say, that before you get a piercing, you have this "hey, it'll be fun" attitude. But when the time comes, you want to know everything damn thing you can; the pros and cons, reviews of the place, everything. Pangaea was wonderful. We made the appointment, and that was the beginning.
My boyfriend and I drove to the parlor. I was really nervous. I was actually thinking of turning back, when I remembered how much I had wanted to have this piercing. 14 years is a long wait. When we walked in, I was instantly calmed. The room was painted a wonderful orange, and had this fantastic waiting couch in an Indian-contemporary fusion. I met Andrea, who's piercings are awesome by the way, and we went through the bar selection. She was really patient with me, understanding that it was a big decision. I chose a peridot inlaid bar, with sterling silver top ball. Then we went into the room.
It was really clean. There was a doctor's table/chair in the middle of the room that she aked me to sit on. She then showed me how each piece was sterilized and then showed me the tools. I admit I was a little freaked, but I do like to know what's going in me. She drew the two dots and asked me to check if they looked even.
When I looked at the mirror, I realized that it would be a really long time until I saw my belly button as it was at that moment. Right then, I realized how important this was. I was decorating my body, making it more beautiful, giving myself an added element of intrigue. I had wanted this for so long. I had always thought how pretty others looked with it, and now I was going to become one of them. I nodded my head and sat back down on the table.
She told me to breathe in, out, then in again. I erased all thoughts and fear and just went with it. In a flash it was done. It's didn't hurt at all. She asked if I wanted to wait a minute, but I felt wonderful. I got up and looked at it in the mirror once it was cleaned. I wanted to cry I was so happy. It was perfect. The color, size, everything was just what I had wanted. I showed my boyfriend, he seemed rather impressed. We then went through the cleaning process. I thanked her and we left. I was on cloud nine for the whole day.
Now, I have no problems with it. I had a little bit of the puss stuff, but it all came off when I washed it. I'm glad that she let me get a barbell too. I never liked the ring, and I saw no pont in paying for something I'd never wear after the heal-time was done, neither did Andrea. Two weeks later, I went back to Pangaea to get my nose pierced as well. That piercing was also another great success.
So all I have to say to anyone thinking about a piercing, you will never regret it. I am so happy about mine, that I still get all geeked in the shower when I clean it. The pain in minor, and once you learn how to take care of it, the routine becomes, second nature. My piercing journey has been nothing but entirely rewarding.