Today I decided to stay home from work, needing a "mental health day."
At A Glance Author Sarojini Contact Sarojini@bme.anon IAM Sarojini When It just happened Artist Nate Studio Earth's Edge Tattoo and Body Piercing Location Winston-Salem, NC I spent the morning napping, finishing a book I'd been trying to finish for a while, and unfortunately, doing a little laundry so I'd feel semi-productive. However, what I was really doing was trying to pass time, as I was waiting for one o'clock to come around. One o'clock was when Earth's Edge Tattoo and Body Piercing opened.
I had decided previously that I wanted a rook piercing on my left ear, to complement the helix piercings on that ear already, and this morning, I decided that today was going to be the day. I had also decided that I was going to head on down to a different studio – Earth's Edge. I felt a bit disloyal to my usual place, but I'd heard and read really good things about Earth's Edge – it was the first piercing studio established in Winston-Salem, and the owner had been tattooing and supervising piercers for a long, long time. I had also heard they were really nice people.
Finally, one o'clock rolled around. I waited until about 1:15, and then called the number given on the website for Earth's Edge (http://www.earthsedgetattoo.com). I asked if they were a cash-only establishment, since I have experience enough with studios to know many are... and I didn't want to get there, get all set to be pierced, and then find out I'd have to run out and get cash. The person on the phone said they could take MasterCard and Visa, but preferred cash if possible, since it was a lot easier to handle. I announced I would go to the ATM and get some cash, then head on down for a rook, and the guy laughed and said it would be $45, and that he was the piercer and he'd see me soon.
After hanging up the phone, I dressed and went out onto our deck for a minute. Dark clouds were gathering, and a few rain drops and rumbles of thunder were already reaching me. I sighed...it figured, as it seems every time I go for a piercing, it is storming (see my other experience, "Thunder, Lightning, and an Industrial"). Going back inside, I threw a bandana over my very thick hair to tie it back off of my ears for the piercer to gain access (and to keep my unruly hair from frizzing into a giant mess in the rain). Then I left for the studio.
As I drove, the rain came down so hard I could barely see, and traffic slowed to a crawl. Large puddles formed on the expressway, and cars attempted to avoid hydroplaning. The thunder crashed overhead, and I turned my metalhead radio station off so I could hear if cars were about to hit me.
Finally, I reached the road where Earth's Edge was supposed to be, and drove along. It was raining so hard I couldn't really see any signs, and I ended up driving past the place twice. Finally, I saw it, kind of down in a dip, so I pulled into the steep parking lot and, umbrella in hand, headed towards the studio door. Water was running down the hill quickly, and it quickly soaked my flip-flopped feet and the ends of my favorite jeans. Yuck.
Inside at last, I shook off like a dog and went up to the counter. No one was at it at the moment, but there was a group of young kids sitting in the waiting area excitedly discussing their piercing and tattoo choices. I walked over to them and asked where the staff was, and they said it was really busy at the moment, but some would walk through shortly.
I smiled and introduced myself, deciding to be civil since I had to wait with the kids (I'm 32 and sometimes the exuberance of teenagers can get a little overwhelming, but it's still fun, since often I feel like a kid too.) The lone guy introduced himself and said it was his 18th birthday, so he was celebrating with a tattoo. The rest of the group consisted of girls. All of them admired my other ear piercings, as well as my diamond engagement/wedding band, and asked if tattoos and piercings hurt. I said no, of course! One girl lamented the fact that she wasn't 18 yet and couldn't get anything done.
Finally, a guy came through and I flagged him down. His name was Nate and it turned out he was the piercer on duty. I explained what I wanted, the rook, and he got very excited as he said ears were his favorite to do. He showed me a book full of photos of his work, and I was duly impressed. He was also excited because he had an apprentice watching and this apprentice, whose name I've forgotten, had never seen a rook done. When I agreed to do the piercing, Nate had me fill out the usual form and made a copy of my ID, then took my $45 for my rook. Then he asked me to wait just five or 10 minutes so he could finish up another client, and said he'd be back, "we'd do it, and I'd fucking love it." I laughed.
Then it was my turn, and I felt very calm except for a few butterflies of excitement in my tummy. The apprentice called me in, and I had never seen such a nice piercing room. It had a table for "below the neck" piercing, and a chair like a hair stylist's for doing ears and faces. Everything was clean, and the supplies were laid out in sterile bags. The apprentice then cleaned and marked my ear while I made idle chat with him (How long have you been apprenticing? Do you like it? How much longer do you have?)
Then Nate himself came in, apologized for the delay, and looked at my ear. He scowled slightly at the mark and moved it, explaining to his apprentice why he did so. Then he had me look in the mirror. It looked perfect to me, so Nate began the process. First he bent the barbell he was going to use, stating that the sharper angle would allow more comfortable wear on my small ear, and then he got the needle out. As usual, it was a tilt of the head, a deep breath, and a quick pinch followed by a quick burn as the jewelry went through. And that was it! I looked in the mirror, LOVED IT, and said so. Nate was happy, and even happier when I handed him his $10 tip.
This piercing was the least painful piercing I've ever had. It really didn't hurt while it was being done, and since then there has been no throbbing, no swelling, no nothing. I do notice a little bit of soreness when I wash it as part of aftercare, but I can even sleep on the ear without pain.
Funny thing is, I decided not to tell my husband I did it, and see if he noticed. It took him 24 hours to see it!! I asked him if he even looked at me anymore, and like a good boy, he said that it's so "me" that it just fit right in with the rest of my mods perfectly.
So get a rook already!