Just another day at work.

At A Glance Author Renee Contact RRBell@voyager.net Artist Oops...didn't get! Studio Anchor Tattoo Location Battle Creek, Michigan

I was at work eating lunch, minding my own business when a couple girls at another table yelled over at me, "Hey Renee, wanna go?" I had know idea what they were talking about and asked them where. "To get your tongue pierced!"

I had been wanting to do it for a while, but was leery of the pain. (I am a wimp!!) A couple of my friends had it done and they all promised me it doesn't hurt to get it done it's just afterwards. I of course did not believe them. I mean how could sticking a needle through a really sensitive part of your body not hurt??? They were honest about the swelling and pain afterwards though, but I can take that kind of pain, I just don't like needles.

One of the ladies going was our Union President and has to be at least 45 years old, and the other was getting married 3 days later so I thought if they can do it, I can do it. I said yes.

Since I didn't know the Jen, Angie and Syndi other then from work I brought along a friend of mine who had hers done for moral support and followed the other girls to Battle Creek. When we got there I could feel my stomach turning. I can't believe what I am about to do. The artists inside were covered head to toe in piercings and tattoos, (is that a prerequisite?) but were really nice and informative. I sat there looking at the piercer with 3 barbells in his tongue, a ring in his nose and various other piercings strategically placed about his face, wondering if I got my tongue done would I eventually turn into a freak??

After showing my ID and signing a waiver,(of which half of the things I didn't really understand, so just initialed) he looked at our tongues. Jen and Syndi were fine but he told me that I had a short tongue and he had to talk to me. I was kind of nervous then thinking he was going to tell me it would really hurt or that I can't get it done but all he said was that it would take longer for me to get used to it, and if it was any shorter he would not pierce me. But that if I wanted it, he would.

I stepped outside to have my last cigarette for 5-10 days (how will I ever live??) and almost puked.

I went in and was asked to swish listerine around in my mouth until I counted to 60. I of course lost track and stood there looking stupic pointing to my mouth. Everyone made fun of me, saying I didn't know how to count, and I felt a little dumb. I then sat on the table and stuck my tongue out so he could dry it off and mark the top and bottem. I was told to lay down and hang my head off the ledge just a bit. The guy could tell I was scared so he said he would be quick. He put the hemo/kitchen utensil looking clamp on my tongue and told me to close my eyes and take a deep breath. As I let my breath out he said the needle was through and he was getting the barbell. He had something oily on his fingers though (looked like petroleum jelly?) and dropped it in my mouth. I heard him say SHIT, and felt something way in the back of my mouth as he then said hold on, hold on, just a sec. After he got a new barbell and put it in, he was finished and I could breathe. He started laughing saying that he had never dropped anything in anyones mouth before and was begging me to forgive him. I of course nodded. It was then that I realized, I didn't even really feel it!! But it did feel kind of weird and I couldn't talk very well.

Since I went second, I got the chance to watch Syndi get hers done which made me glad I had already went through it!!! I don't think I would have done it after watching, it's pretty gut wrenching.

Unfortunetly I came down with a cold, got a sore throat and didn't have a voice the next morning. I had to go to work and everyone thought that I couldn't talk because of the piercing and nothing I could do would convince them I just had a cold.

I was told to keep tons of ice on it, especially because my tongue is short and carried cups around all day. That again made me the butt of jokes.

It's been five days and I think all the swelling is down, but I still have a hard time saying (s) and (th). I'm hoping it'll be back to normal soon. I did notice some yellow-white snot looking stuff coming out of the top hole, and my tongue is turning kind of white behind the piercing. I'm hoping this is normal. ;-)

That's my story... you can email me if you want. Oh and if you want to get it done. Take it from a wimp, it doesn't hurt!!!! Just swells and you are the butt of a lot of jokes the first couple days...