At A Glance
Author	Steve
Contact	Steve@bme.anon
When	A week ago
Artist	Keith
Studio	Body Blast
Location	California

When I was in my late twenties, probably in the mid seventies, I had started to notice men were starting to pierce their ear and I thought the look was awesome but was mostly used by gay men to make their statement to being gay by having only their left ear pierced but I didn't care so I decided to do it myself anyway. There was no BME or piercing studios at the time so one night I pierced my left ear my self using a cube of ice to freeze the lobe then just shoving the stud threw the ear till it popped threw the back of the ear. I took a look and loved the it. That lasted for a few years, I think it was 1984, I got a better job which didn't allow the look so I would wear it on the weekends or on special occasions. This lasted for years until I got tired of the bull related to having the earring so I took it out.

In 95 I started to compete in western dance and noticed the men wearing earrings mostly in their left but now some had both done and even a few had more than one. I was jealous so I started to wear mine again when I wasn't working or when I was at a competition so this lasted for about five years till it became too expensive and political so we retired from competition and I joined a team for a couple years. At that time I was also asked to move up to a new position at work so out came the jewelry because it wasn't appropriate for the position.

By this time men were piercing both ears and stretching their ears. I was about 50 and I started to miss my earring so I started to wear a stud again but only when I was out, I didn't think the fashion was appropriate for my age, so I would just dream. This went on for 1 more year.

About a month ago I really started to feel the urge to go ahead with getting my ears done. I have been having work done on a custom Tat 2 on my arm, shoulder, and chest; but that is another story. My Tat 2 artist and piercer were wearing large earrings (flesh tunnels) and I loved the look which made me think again about going ahead with the deed. 2 weeks ago I had an appointment to have some more work done my Tat 2 and a new artist was working in the studio and he just had both his ears done and stretched to a 6 gauge. I thought to myself I want that. Keith ..my Tat 2 artist had just finished so work on my chest and I thought to myself now is the time to go ahead and just do it but I couldn't make myself say the words. I knew the piercer was free at the time but I was silent and left. When I got to my car I just sat there and told my self again "just go for it, it's an everyday thing these days". So I got out and went back into the shop and told Keith that I wanted to pierc e my ears but I didn't want the sissy looking hoops. I wanted to stretch my ears. So he and the piercer suggested I pierce at 10 gauge and he would stretch it to 6 gauge. So I picked out a pair of 6 gauge tunnels and said " lets do it". I was so nervous that I shivered. I felt like I had a fever. The piercer asked me again if I was ready, I said yes, so he had me come back to his booth and stand while he marked the location on both ears till we were both satisfied with the placement. I then sat in the chair. He then asked if I was ready and I said yes. I took a deep breath and exhaled a couple times and on the third one he pierced it and then followed it with the stretch and then inserted the jewelry. The pain was minimal so we moved on to the right side. I repeated the breathing and before I knew it he had done it pierce and was getting to do the stretch but this time the stretch hurt a lot more but still bearable and the jewelry was in. I took a look in the mirror and fel t like I was complete, I was me again. Since then I have stretched my ear to 4 ga and plan on ending the stretch at 0 ga.

I would recommend this to anyone who desires it bad enough, just go for it.

Steve