The day was not unlike every other; clear blue sky, bored as hell, and dreading the fast approaching closing shift at a job that is less than enthusiastic of body piercing in its corporate dress code. I had borrowed my grandparent's pick-up so that Braden and I could get out of our miniscule town and find some relief from the endless droll of everyday life, even if only for the briefest of moments. For some reason the thought of blowing half of my paycheck at the mall just didn't do it for me as it usually did. My mind was focused on the rather unpleasant subject of my complicated love life, and I needed something a little out of the ordinary and average. After a pause in our normal road chat I turned to my friend.
At A Glance Author InnerDemons Contact innerdemons@gmail.com IAM InnerDemons When A month ago Artist Josh Studio Cherry Bomb Tattoo Location Marysville, Ca "We need to do something stupid. Something violent. Maybe a little bit of both... Let's get something pierced."
A thumbs-up and a sharp right later and we were well on our way towards accomplishing this very goal. I had Braden take the wheel while I fished a business card out of my wallet for Cherry Bomb Tattoo. I had visited the studio on a previous occasion (the studio was across the street from Guys & Dolls, where my friends and I would occasionally play a few rounds of pool) and was impressed with what I saw. Not to mention that it was the only place I had the slightest idea of how to find on the spur of the moment.
It was easy to figure out what Braden was going to get. He had his sights set on a center tongue piercing for quite sometime, but the lack of opportunity and the nagging presence of forethought had proved to be a lasting deterrent to this goal. This little venture had removed both obstacles, for better or worse.
The dilemma arose when it came time to determine what I myself wanted. As I mentioned before, my current place of employment is rather intolerant of visible body jewelry. Thankfully my lip piercing was completely healed upon my employment and could easily withstand the absence of jewelry without consequence for the duration of an eight hour shift. A fresh piercing, however, could not tolerate such abuse, forcing me to choose a piercing that could remain hidden from view at any moment given normal circumstances, or start searching for a job elsewhere. I chose the path of least resistance, to say the least.
The jewelry had to be perfectly invisible, and while acrylic retainers are significantly less visible than normal pieces of body jewelry, they are still visible nonetheless and ergo were not a viable option. This left me thinking of genital and nipple piercings, neither of which appealed to me at the moment. After a rigorous process of elimination I was down to the absolute last resort: my septum. The septum piercing, while one of the most eye-catching facial piercings, is also the only one (to the best of my knowledge, though I could be wrong) that can be hidden from view without removing the jewelry.
My one problem was that, unlike my lip and tongue piercings, I did not have my heart set on this new addition. I had considered it in the past, but ultimately came to the conclusion that it would look ugly and obtrusive, and that I would be less than pleased with the result. My greatest drive in obtaining new piercings is that I appreciate the aesthetic qualities of the jewelry, so naturally this left me in quite a pickle. I was determined to go through with the procedure, so, as in most cases that I believe there is a possibility that I may back out, I simply forced myself into the situation. After that embarrassment would never fail to sever my escape. If my prediction proved true and I did not appreciate the adornment I could always remove it and allow it to close. At worst I would be out a few dollars.
After a half hour drive and a brief stop at the mall to pick up something or other we made our way to the shop. We walked into the studio and the first thing that caught my eye was the familiar mural on the west wall; a pair of cherries with fuses protruding from the shiny red surface to make them look like explosives done in an old school graffiti style on clean white walls. Opposite the mural was the typical flash expected of any studio ranging from astrological signs to butterflies to naked red ladies with horns. Scattered in between were a few glass display cases showing a wide variety of body jewelry. I had seen it all before so I made my way directly to the counter. Not two seconds later Josh appeared from the room closed off by nothing more than a simple chain and a "DO NOT ENTER" sign that separated the various cubicles used for piercing and tattooing and a relaxing room for staff and customers alike from the lobby. He greeted us warmly. Despite the countless hours I've spent rummaging through the galleries of BME I couldn't help but take in each of his visible alterations, from the large gauge septum, to the tattooed stars under his eyes and lastly the one-and-a-half-inch stretched lobes. It's not everyday you see someone like that coming from my hometown out in the sticks.
It didn't take long to get down to business. We immediately asked about the pricing for our desired additions: a septum and tongue piercing. He answered with a prompt $75 and $50, respectively, though in retrospect I don't think either of us cared much about the price. We were not prepared to leave empty handed. Prior to signing the papers Josh made sure he had my full attention and asked if I knew what I was getting myself into.
"Septums are not the most comfortable piercings you can get. They can be painful and they have a risk of turning out a little crooked. Are you sure you want to do this?"
It wasn't the first time I had been asked to question whether or not I was aware of what a piercing would include. On my previous visit to the studio Josh had actually talked me out of an apadravya piercing after mentioning the little everyday details that went along with it. I thought about it for a few seconds and nodded my head before he slid the papers across the counter. Each of us signed on the dotted line and initialed where it needed it. Shortly after we paid for the procedure and jewelry and followed Josh beyond the chain, through the back room, and into the smaller room where the piercing would take place. The room echoed of the lobby, with scattered pieces of flash and a few Hawaiian statuettes, yet there was a definite semblance to a medical room set off by the medical bed and the level of cleanliness. I think that was the first time I was in a room that felt so clean yet had so much color, very different from the stark white walls of your typical examining room. It was a little small between the three of us, but not so much as to make one uncomfortable.
Braden insisted that I go first, which I secretly preferred, but I let him believe I was doing him a favor. We gave our good piercer the batting order and watched as he prepared for a septum piercing. This was the first time I had been nervous about a piercing, and it was quite apparent to everyone. I was fidgety and my legs were shaking. I even remember voicing a fear of passing out while I was driving home. Josh reassured me (as well as my passenger) that he would make sure I was okay before he released me and that it was perfectly okay to relax in the studio if I felt unsure of myself.
I sat in a chair that reminded me of those used in offices at computer desks while Braden stood by the doorway. I made it quite clear to Josh that I was afraid of needles and when it came time to bring it out that he needed to warn me to close my eyes. He did just that and by the time he positioned the septum clamp I was finally able to sit still for the most part. I waited patiently for the warning that my previous piercer used to signify that she was ready to shove the needle through:
"Breath in... and out."
No such warning came. Instead I felt a few quick pokes followed by a sharp and sudden stab of pain in between my nostrils. I gritted my teeth and squeezed my eyes as tight as possible, an action probably disproportional to the actual pain experienced. I wrote it off as reflex and after a few moments it was all over with. The pain subsided just as quickly as it appeared. I opened my eyes and Josh handed me a paper towel with which to dry them. I looked in the mirror to my left and was surprisingly pleased with what I saw. Aside from the fact that I looked like I had been crying like a little girl with a skinned knee I saw the shiny circular barbell protruding from my nostrils. Much to my delight my prior prediction was disproved. I rather liked my new piercing, and apparently so did my piercer. He commented on how the septum is notoriously difficult to get perfectly straight, but he was quite impressed with his own handiwork. He took a couple of snapshots for his portfolio and after a few brief moments of admiring my new metal I traded places with Braden.
I sat on the vacant medical bed while Braden readied himself and Josh changed his gloves. I was grinning from ear to ear like an idiot (I'm beginning to notice a pattern with this) as Josh prepared for the tongue piercing to ensue. Braden's remains the only piercing to date that I have ever witnessed. I watched as Josh pulled the needle from the package and grimaced. I looked on as he drove this same needle through Braden's tongue and a glimmer of a question entered my mind.
"Why the hell do people do this!? Oh. Wait. Nevermind."
After all was said and done Josh went into great detail about the recommended aftercare and handed each of us a different colored bottle that reminded me of a very small bottle of shampoo. He said that Braden's held a solution to rinse his mouth with that needed to be diluted in water, and that mine was an ant-microbial to be lathered like soap and rubbed lightly around the piercing, preferably while in the shower. We all rose to part ways and I asked Josh what the best way to send him a tip would be, seeing as I didn't have any cash on me. He politely refused and said if we wanted to give him a tip just bring in another customer someday.
The two of us were nearly euphoric with our experiences on the drive home and we began to joke about the reactions of our friends and family upon our return. Suffice to say it was an interesting evening. My grandmother was the first to witness my new addition, and she was none too pleased, to say the least. She was on the verge of tears she was so furious. The two of us did not speak for the next week. Somewhat disheartened after the encounter I decided that it would be wise to flip the jewelry up into my nose and take a different approach with my parents. When it came time to let them know I took them into the backyard, one at a time and built up the suspense. By the time I told them I had gotten a piercing they thought that I was going to confess that I had gotten someone pregnant or that I was in trouble with the police. Needless to say they weren't pleased with the metal dangling from my nose, but they were relieved that it wasn't something serious. I highly recommend this approach. Unfortunately for Braden his mother's discovery of his tongue piercing did not go nearly as smooth. He called me at work that night asking if it would be possible if he could move in with my family and I. I later learned that she believed it to be an act of rebellion against her personally, but after talking with her sister, who assured her it was no such thing, she agreed to allow her son to continue living at home. Go aunt Cindy!
Since having my septum pierced roughly one month ago, I have yet to find the approval of just one of my friends, besides Braden who shared in the experience. Even Sarah, who greatly outweighs me in the quantity of body piercings, has made it clear that she believes the piercing is ugly and should be removed immediately. My friend Ashley has stated that it was the worst idea I've ever had, and absolutely refuses to look at it. Out of respect for my friend I struck a deal in which I would have it flipped up out of sight whenever I was in her presence. Even Matt, when asked his opinion, flatly told me to tank it.
Scorned by each of my friends and obviously disapproved by my family, I greatly questioned whether or not I should actually keep the piercing. One sleepless night I ran this question over and over in my head until I finally jumped out of bed and made a beeline for the bathroom. I turned on the light and looked long and hard at my reflection in the mirror. I studied the jewelry from several perspectives, at one point even removing my lip ring to see how it would look with nothing else to compete with for attention. I made up my mind that evening. I got this piercing for ME. No one else. I didn't get it to impress my friends, I didn't get it to piss off my family. I got it because I enjoyed it. I do not adhere to the church of FTW, but since that evening I am resolute in my judgment.
I will be true to myself, and I shall never change so long as I am happy with who I have become. Should I someday fall into disapproval with some facet of myself, I will work to correct it, but not a moment sooner.