It was a cold February day and the snow pounded on my wind screen as I drove home from work. I was angry. I work with my parents, and we don't always get along. The most embarassing thing that they could do to me was shout at me in front of the people I work with, and of course, being parents, they'd done just that.
At A Glance Author Caroline Contact Caroline@bme.anon When It just happened Artist JP Studio Access All Areas Location Nottingham, England I work a fair distance from home so I had about 45 minutes to think things over when I'd decided I wanted some work doing. Three things ran through my head - the Greek word for virtue, a wrist surface piercing and a rook piercing. I'd wanted all of them for awhile and finally settled on the rook. I'd wanted it the longest and the only thing holding me back was the pain factor. However, I knew where to go and I had faith in JP.
JP had done several of my piercings and I would soon be due for a VIP card. He noticed the migrated (and retired) industrial piercing scars on my ear and asked me who had done them. He actually grimaced once I told him, telling me that these things need experience. I let him know that he had pierced my sister's rook over a year ago and her's had gone swimmingly. Again, he made the remark about experience; he's been piercing for almost twenty years.
We went through all the jewelry options and we both agreed on a PTFE 14 gauge barbell with 4mm balls - preferring merely 'small' to 'diddy'. 16 gauge just seemed to have too much of a 'cheese cutter' effect. He used a very short needle, and bent it before he pierced so that he could get a better angle.
The jewelry went into the autoclave and we talked while we waited. He marked my ear up and the position was perfect at first attempt. He explained that although I had plenty of room, there were several restrictions for a rook piercing, mostly due to the fact that he preferred them to lay flat against the head. At this point I would have put my life in his hands. He knew exactly what he was doing and he was completely talkative and personable.
We went through aftercare before the procedure. He knew I knew the aftercare but he knew he was obligated to go through it. At this point he asked me what my preferred aftercare was. I was worried about his response to 'sea soaks for the first two weeks and then when I remember - I mostly let them heal alone." He simply nodded and instructed me to lay down. The latest BME Publisher's Ring article ran through my mind. Did I smell? Was my hair clean enough? I'd washed that morning...but was it enough! I silently cursed myself, and realised that if my ears were gross he wouldn't have touched them or would have started cleaning them enough for the piercing. As it was, he wiped them with an antiseptic aid. I smiled a little, and relaxed.
He sprayed the piercing with numbing agent, having padded my ear canal with paper towels. I loathe and love that stuff at the same time. I didn't feel him line the needle up. I didn't feel anything before he said "piercing's done." My hands were still clasped around the bed waiting to feel a mini explosion or at least hear something ungodly. Luckily, it never came. He inserted the jewelry, which, again, I didn't feel, and thanked him, paid him and left.
So far it has not bled, it's swollen a little and gone red. It's not painful at all, but I can see that tomorrow I'm going to be popping the ibuprofen like never before. The past few piercings I've had have been extremely painful (nostril, a third conch and septum) but I think the piercers had gotten sloppy. JP would douse an entire bodypart in numbing agent if he thought it was going to make a client feel more calm.
Maybe I should have wait waited to see how it healed before writing this, but as many people know, cartilage piercings can be somewhat iffy. Like other people, I would say that if you want a rook piercing, go for it. At the end of the day it will leave a small scar. Piercings are not like tattoos - providing that you take care of them, you can have them for as long as you want them. Don't be afraid to get a piercing, especially not one you've been waiting for!
Now that I've finally gotten a rook for myself, I do want a wrist piercing. I was worried about asthetics - would it suit me? et cetera. Now I've told myself to shut up and do what I want. You only live once, so why not try everything you can?