My first experience with body modification has been a very lasting and life changing one. I chose to explore how I got to where I am, by explaining where I have been. The experiences that I have had have changed my physical appearance, my emotional sensitivities and point of view, the path of my life has been changed very much by a tiny ring. And while I'm sure that not everyone experience is not as prominent in their career path and life decisions, I felt that it was something important to share.
At A Glance Author JaneZombie Contact JaneZombie@bme.anon When Two years ago Artist Valerie Berg Studio Body Piercing Unlimited Location Fairbanks AK I come from a very conservative military family, piercings and tattoos had never been something I was exposed to as an adolescent. I had seen them of course, but I had no idea the extent of what could be. In my freshman year of college I met this girl who called herself Rotten. Her and I spoke to each other and formed some sort of friendship. I had a car, she knew about things I wanted to know about. One day she asked if we could go to Body Piercing Unlimited and get pierced together. For orientation the company had donated hook up cards which waived the piercing fee with the purchase of jewelry.
Wanting to try something new, I agreed and Rotten and I went to see Valerie at BPU to get our rooks pierced. My memory is so jam packed with experiences in the shop now that I can't even recall my initial reaction to being there, but it must have been a great one I went there for 17 more piercings. I do remember not knowing what to expect, but feeling completely natural and comfortable in the setting. There was always so much to look at. It was a little shop of things that I didn't understand but wanted to.
Valerie was a wonderful piercer when it came to bedside manner and ability. She explained what was going to happen, and I remember that it was one of my more painful piercings, but I think that's only because I was trying to be so aware of my surroundings, and didn't focus on my breathing like I was told to. Valerie cleaned and prepped me, telling me how to take care of my piercing. She made me feel at ease, by asking me about how I knew rotten and I felt immediately like she had just welcomed me into the family or something. When I laid down on the table I and turned my head towards the wall I immediately became a little bit anxious and uncertain. I could feel Valerie place the receiving to be which she explained caught the needle, at the time this made no sense to me but I smiled politely like I did. She told me to inhale and exhale and all I felt was a sharp throbbing pain and then immediately I felt heat rush to the area. I had chosen a 16 5/16 Stainless steel fixed bead ring (it was the least expensive option at the time)and I still have it in. I refuse to take the jewelry out or change it, because in my head it was a new beginning for me. I left the shop with a fresh rook piercing and a sense of calm that I hadn't experienced before. There was something about that shop that made me feel like I belonged there.
I continued to go to school, work hard and blow off emotional steam by visiting Valerie. I would always ask her what she wanted to do, telling her that I'd like to stick to my ears and that I was on a budget. I had lost my steady greenhouse job due to constant absence due to chronic migraines. I was working at a car dealership as a cashier which is definitely NOT my calling. Working 40 hours a week at a completely unsatisfying job, and going to school full time was getting to be too much undesired stress. So I emailed Valerie and asked her how she got her job as a piercer. She explained to me that she had gotten an apprenticeship and told me that if I was interested I should drop off a resume.
A month later I was learning how to be a counter bitch and about cross contamination. I house sat to get money to afford my apprentice license. After a 1200 hour apprenticeship and 7 months I became a licensed Body Piercer. Soon after I got my license the piercer from other shop in our town moved to Hawaii for a while. It amazes me still how I went from being a shy client of this shop to one of the only practicing licensed piercers in my town. I love my clients and its my goal to make them feel as wonderful and at home as I did