I have always been different from the rest of my family; it's almost as if I was destined to be the socially acceptable/normal one. You see both of my parents are heavily tattooed, my mother has two full sleeves as does my father; who also has a full back piece and some facial work. My two elder siblings are also modified. My sister, Julia, has several pieces of tattoo work on either arm and a multitude of facial piercings. My brother, Alex, has one full sleeve and a back piece in progress as well as several piercings...and there is me. I honestly believe that as I grew my parents must have wondered whether they took the right baby home from the hospital, for example my family are very into heavy metal and yet somehow I developed a taste for classic music. My family all have very individual dress senses, my Mom is very into the hippy look, i.e. Indian prints, dreads ECT...my Dad is very much the biker of the family...my sister is a mix of 1950's kitsch and emo...my brother is punk through and through and me well I can only be describe as bookish.
At A Glance Author Leigh Contact Leigh@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Lucian Studio "Skin" Location Praha Anyway to get back to the point, I decided at an early age that I would abstain from modifications of any kind, not because I didn't like them [I did] but because it was the only way I felt I could distance myself from my family and gain my own personality. But deep down I knew it wasn't the right decision to have made. I would look at my family tattoos and feel a longing grow inside of me, each time my sister would add another piercing to her collection I would envy not only her bravery [she has a fear of needles] but the confidence she had/has in herself to look the way she wanted to look. Now, I'm the baby of the family and I only recently turned eighteen...my sister [with whom I am very close and admire greatly] suggested, half jokingly that I should have some kind of modification to mark the occasion. Before I knew what I was saying, I replied.
"You're right, I should"
I'm not entirely sure which one of us was more shocked, but the image of my sisters facial expression was hysterical I can tell you.
Over the past few months I had begun to realise that it didn't matter whether I was modified or not, I would still be the person that I had grown to become and that denying myself the opportunity to do something that I wanted wasn't right. Now although I have pretended to those around me that I don't think about modification, I have considered many a time what I would have done if I were too have something done and the unprecedented winner was my septum. It was my favourite facial piercing, I think the fact that bother of my siblings have it has contributed to that. I told my sister in a surprisingly calm voice, what I planned to have done and watched with some amusement as that facial expression returned...but after the initial shock she smiled and said that if I wanted she would come with me to the studio that she has had all of her piercings done at, something I was pleased about...not only did I have moral support but I knew that I would be going to a studio that did great work.
It had been about a week since I decided that I wanted my septum pierced that my sister and I made the journey to the piercing studio. Unfortunately I'd had to wait a week, for two reasons. One my sister had thought it a good idea to think clearly and rationally about my decision and secondly she wasn't free to come with me that week and as this was something I really wanted to share with her and took her advice very seriously I knew that it was the sensible thing to do. Although it didn't stop me feeling impatient.
My sister and I caught the tram into the city and made our way to a fast food restaurant. After downing a glass of coke and forcing myself to eat half of the burger my sister had insisted I buy we were ready to go...
The studio "Skin" is the same studio that my sister has been being pierced at since she herself turned eighteen, and is close friends with two of the pierces there...as she opened the door to the shop and I nervously entered.
"Hey"
My sister said to a young man [Lucian] that stood behind the glass counter [which neatly displayed and array of colourful jewellery] sipping a cup of coffee. He raised his hand in that effortlessly cool kind of way.
"Hey"
He replied, looking at me.
"Who's this then?"
He asked.
"This is my little sister...Leigh"
He looked surprised, my sister and I neither dress alike nor look alike.
"Well to what do I owe this pleasure?"
He said, flashing me a bright smile and a mock bow.
"I've decided I want my septum pierced"
I replied, kicking myself for sounding so formal.
"Ok...great"
Lucian replied.
My sister browsed the selection of jewellery while I nervously filled out the appropriate forms...and before long I was ready to go.
As I seated myself in the dentist like chair, my sister took a hold of my hand and smiled. It might sound really silly but for me this was a really important step in my life and that fact that I was sharing it with my sister made it all the more special.
Lucian was great; he made sure to explain everything that he was doing and certainly put me at ease. Before I knew it he was ready to pierce and I was beginning too feel those butterflies again.
"Ok, I want you to breathe in deeply for me and on the count of three breathe out as steadily as you can"
Lucian said, smiling.
"Ok"
I replied, glad I could still find my voice.
"Ok...One..."
I started to breathe in as steadily as I could manage. All the while my sister kept a hold of my hand.
"Two..."
My mind is racing at this point.
"Three!"
My eyes are closed and I wait for the overwhelming pain, but it's far more bearable than I ever imagined it would be and suddenly I feel a sense of relief combined with pride that I have done it. My sister let go of my hand, smiled at me and watched proudly as Lucian places in the jewellery; after which he offers me a glass of water and tell me to sit tight for a moment while my body gets over the initial shock.
This all happened nearly a month ago now and my septum is healing nicely and honestly I couldn't be happier that I decided to go through with it and have it done. My family all agree that it really suits me and all think that I should add to it a soon a possible...but honestly I don't think that I'll ever be one of those people that has many modifications, for now I'm happy with my very meaningful septum.
Take care and happy modding, Leigh.