My mother and I have always been able to compromise. This is actually how I got my first non-gun piercing (I already had three sets of holes in each of my earlobes) It was early November of my senior year of high school and I desperately wanted to get my conch pierced (which I have now that I am 18) Since I had had several problems healing my earlobes, my mother refused to take me to get my conch done for fear of it getting severely infected. I understood her worries (especially since she was the one who had to pay for all my past problems) So I just casually asked her if she would consider taking me to get my navel pierced. I had also wanted this done but I hadn't previously mentioned it because I was 99% sure that the answer would be a resounding "No." I about fell over when her answer was a simple "I don't care" :D I was unbelievably excited and we decided to go on Tuesday because it was a half-day for school and I would have 5 days to heal before I had to go to work. Her only requirement was that I had to pay for the piercing itself and any medical attention needed for it if I had problems.
At A Glance Author PunkyGoGoldfish Contact PunkyGoGoldfish@bme.anon When A year ago Artist Paul Studio Skinquake Location Greenwood Indiana Tuesday arrived very quickly and I fidgeted all throughout the school day. I had only told one of my friends that I was getting it done and I had told her only because she also had hers pierced and I wanted to know what it was like. She (whom I should note has absolutely no pain tolerance) said that it hurt but she would do it again if she had to. This actually made me feel better. It was odd riding in the car with my mother to Skinquake because I didn't think she would be as ok with it was she was. But she does have 7 ear piercings that she did herself so I guess it's a genetic thing. ;) Once we got to Skinquake I had that initial feeling of panic and I wondered if I was doing the right thing. I managed to calm myself down long enough for my mom to file the paper work and pay the guy at the front desk (I'm pretty sure his name was Paul) He showed me the jewelry and I picked out a small curved barbell with light blue crystal balls. He took the jewelry out and left to go autoclave everything. After about 5 minutes, we were taken back to the piercing room.
The piercing room consisted of a table, chair, and a sink area. Paul put in gloves and used a violet ink and toothpick to mark my navel. Since back then I was a bit chubby, this took a little bit. He had me sit down and stand up again and he remarked me. I got comfortable on the table and my mom held my hand and tried to tell me a funny story to distract me from the fact that I was about to have a needle shoved in my stomach (because she's sweet like that) Paul told me that I should just breathe normally and he wasn't going to count or anything because people usually tense up when they know it's coming. I was ok with that. I felt the clamp go on, which was very cold, and I felt the slightest pressure from him leaning up the needle and then...nothing. Or at least it felt like nothing. He was unscrewing the ball of my jewelry and I was confused until my mother commented that I look really funny with a needle in my tummy (my mom is also very corny) It was then that I had realized that I had been pierced and it didn't hurt at all. Not even an initial shock; nothing. The jewelry went in and I tipped him and we went home.
Once we were home, I decided to see my newly decorated navel. I was somewhat disappointed to see that it appeared slightly crooked, no angled, but just barely left of center. I figured it was from swelling and my chub so I didn't worry about it too much. For three months, I cared for it as I was told and didn't have any problems with it except for when I ran into the counter while walking through the kitchen at night (that hurt just a tiny bit) Unfortunately, it was in fact crooked, and more unfortunately (and at the same time fortunately) I lost over 20 pounds, which caused it to reject. I now only have two tiny dots of scar tissue where the barbell used to be. I was sad to see my navel piercing go, but after I am done serving in the Navy I am sure that I will get it repierced, and this time it won't be crooked.