Everyone remembers firsts, and everyone includes me. Nostalgia could almost be a drug for me, I enjoy reflecting on things of days gone. Although my first facial piercing was a ridiculous event, I'll always remember it, cause it started a healthy new lifestyle of body modifications.
At A Glance Author faceturnedheel Contact faceturnedheel@bme.anon IAM faceturnedheel When Five years ago Location Washington DC It was May 29th, 1999, also known as my 18th birthday. I had tickets for a local radio show called the HFStival, a large stadium concert with 20+ bands. Who wouldn't be thrilled? Me and my friends knew that the earlier you left, the easier it would be to get there, due to traffic being murder on those days. Of course we were only driving to the metro rail, not the stadium. As we arrive to the parking lot, we start hiding the liquor we brought for the show. It was my birthday, remember? Anyways, upon the green rail towards D.C., one of my friends reminds me that this year, they're gonna have body piercing booths set up, and he decided he wanted his eyebrow done. At first I was a little ticked, cause I knew he had heard me rant and rave about how I've been waiting forever to turn 18 to get mine done. He then said he'd only get his if I got mine, which I never understood. Maybe it was his version of hand holding or something. Maybe I was the test subject? Didn't matter, cause I was all about good times today.
We finally arrive, mosy likely around 10:30-11am. After going through the ticket lines and bag checks, we've stepped foot into a show we've all been waiting for for what seemed like years. After checking out a few bands, I knew it was time. Time to step up and embrace the fact that pain is only a temporary situation. We picked the first piercing tent we found, they were all set up in the parking lot, outside the staduim along with the other merch tents. The counter girl was honestly cute, with paw print tattoos, leaving the impression of a cat walking around on her chest. She asks me "What are you looking to get done?." I browse the front table, checking out the jewerly and flyers, you know, pretending I know what I'm doing. "I'd like to get my eyebrow pierced." "Cool, it'll be $45 dollars and you'll have to wait like 15 minutes." Fine with me. Already buzzed from the predrinking from the metro, I was okay with waiting inside the comforting shade of the tent, away from that miserable sun. It was then I met the guy who would be my stabbing agent that evening. I watched him clean everything, and listened to him explain what he was going to do, and all the steps of cleaning, etc, etc. Very professional. He then asked, "you haven't been drinking alot, have you?" I then pondered my defintion of "alot", and told him "no, not at all." I didn't know why he asked, and I kinda didn't want to know. As he got ready to pierce, I remember thinking 100x faster, and my mind going everywhere. Many cultures have tests for the young males to become adults, from boyhood to manhood. Was this my test? It seemed so right, the day of my 18th birthday, my first facial piercing, I was set. It was meant to happen. He fasten the clip around my eyebrow. Counts it down...5...4...3*punch*. Yea, he pierced on 3, cause maybe if I was not ready for it, I wouldn't feel it, I guess. But with small pain, the needle was in.
And then the blood began to spill. Everywhere. I looked like a fricken human sprinkler. It was a running stream from my eyebrow to my chin. Have you ever seen the beginning to James Bond movies, and that circle represents the eye of the person that's always trying to shoot him, then Mr. Bond shoots him, and you see blood run down the screen? That's 100% what it looked like from my point of view. See, let me drop a little bit of science on you that I was unfortunate not to have. You see being outside in 90 degree weather under the sun, plus drinking liquor will make your blood pump. Fast. Meaning getting a cut, or pireced is like popping a waterballoon. They had to move me in the back of the tent because of the fear of the other customers seeing it, making it look like they messed up. So I advice to be 100% sober when being pierced whenever and wherever. Then the guy told me "Damn, that's alot of blood. You feeling okay?." I nodded, and said "yea, must be hot outside or some thing." Something indeed. I remember after all the bloodshed and clotting with paper towels until it stopped, I finally saw it in the mirror. I loved it. I remember feeling good about what I've done, with the adrenaline still flowing. I was sure this wasn't going to be the last. In some ways, it was a milestone to me.
My eyebrow ring is no longer in. The hole closed up a few years ago. I have since pierced my ears and gauged them to 00, and have a 14g in my labret. Even though it's not really something to get attached to, I do miss it. Maybe some day down the road, I'll get it redone. Who knows, as long as I'm living here on earth, might as well modify and decorate this vessel. It's not coming with me when I leave here.
Thanks for reading...make me a sandwich.