yes. i've caught the fad.

At A Glance Author Simon Contact Simon@bme.anon Artist Sasha Studio Active Underground Location Melbourne

I first caught the "piercing fad" when a I met a new friend at a TAFE I attended in 1999. He had his septum, nipple, labret pierced. He later got his tongue done, and stretched the hole in his ear pretty wide.

About a year earlier I was really against tattoos and piercings, and thought they were absolutely pointless. A waste of money for a piece of jewlery or design on your body. My ex-girlfriend, had got a tattoo shortly after we broke up, and was dissapointed when I was not excited after she showed me. I think if she saw my tongue, she would probably have a heart attack and let fly with accusations about how I am a hippocritical jerk or something. My response would be: hey, can't a guy change his mind!

After I had conveniently changed my mind about piercing I thought and pondered about my options. I was contemplating getting some kind of piercing done but was never exactly sure what I wanted. I had decided that piercing was not mutilation, but there was some people that didn't think before the pierced. Eyebrows were really getting popular amongs my social circle, and I wanted something a little different. I am quite sure the tongue is a very popular piercing but where I'm coming from, it was that little bit more uncommon than you would think.

I finally decided that my tongue was the one for me. It would be easier to conceal than a septum or labret ( which I also liked the idea of ).The only two things I was worried about were pain, and cost. I desperatly wanted it done, but didn't know if I could justify paying $80 odd dollars for it.

I was attending University interviews in Melbourne one week, late in the year ( still 1999 ), while also staying at a friends house, with other house guests. On my way back from an interview, I reallised that I was close to a tattoo and piercing parlor that my pierced friend had recommended, and decided to get it done.

I entered the parlor and talked to the piercer ( Sasha ) about getting it done. Asked her about the proceedure, the after care, and also about what to, and not to do, afterwards. She said that it was a good piercing, and recommended it, as it was one of the least painfull piercings. I was doubtfull as I was sure it would hurt so much, but never the less had been building so long for this moment that I felt I couldn't back out.

In the end I decided what the hell, when am I ever going to be here again. I knew that my friends would flip out, but I didn't care. I was excited about everything. The piercing it'self. Kissing with it. Even, as you can imagine oral sex.

I felt almost no pain when the needle went through, and what pain I did feel was so mild, it wasn't worth feeling, and I had this bit of metal through my tongue. It was wierd feeling the bar through my tongue, as It was something in my mouth that I couldn't acctually touch with my tongue. Sasha gave me some water to rinse my mouth out with. I was in the middle of rinsing, and a srange thing happened. I almost fainted!

Now I am not a person who can't stand blood a gore, and the sight of piercings and what not does not make me wretch in the slightest way. But the shock of having something as wierd as a metal bar through my mouth, made me nearly black out. But not to worry. Sasha layed me out on the table with a damp cloth on my forehead for about five minutes, until I got my head together. I got up, payed her, and walked out a pierced person.

It has been about four months or so since I got my tongue pierced, and it's absoluely fine. It's healed well, and doesn't cause me any pain. I take it out every two weeks, to scrub the bottom ball clean and any other substances on it. Since then I have had my nipple pierced and am having a hankering for a PA.

My parents have only found out recantly, and did not flip out as I thought they would. My mum was surprisingly excited, and asked me a million and one questions about what went on. My father was less inthused, and muttered something to himself about hepatitis.

I highly recomend the tongue for first piercings, as it is painless, and causes only mild discompfort for a couple of days.( I had to eat soup for a few days ). But remember this - If you don't like it, you can take it out!