I always felt like I was different than other people my whole life. Ever since I can remember, I have always been attracted to tattoos and other kinds of body modification. I can seriously say that I remember wanting a tattoo when I was 9 or 10 years old. I would get those fake ones and put them on my body, all walking around thinking I was the shit. I liked the way it made my whole arm or leg look totally different, and I remember thinking how much I wanted people to "check" me and my fake tattoo out.
At A Glance Author anonymous When N/A Artist Unknown Studio Body Piercing Unlimited Location Alaska When I was about 12 or 13 I wanted to change my appearance drastically. Piercing something on the body was becoming one of the hottest new trends, and I thought it looked so hot! I like the silver jewelry and how the people wearing it on their faces seemed to be so cool and care free. Plus, you were pretty much dubbed a "rebel" if you had any kind of piercing, tattoos, or a strange haircut. That is exactly what I was looking for.
In the middle of my eighth grade year, I begged my Mom to let me pierce my eyebrow. I had seen someone in a magazine with a silver hoop in their eyebrow, and I just had to have it. My Mother naturally flipped out and said "hell no." I had to beg and plead almost every day and night. I even wrote her this long sappy letter telling her how much I needed the eyebrow ring in order to feel better about myself and "not so depressed." Finally, just to get me off of her back -she gave in and let me get in pierced.
Unfortunately school was out by then -but I was getting what I had dreamed of for 6 months straight! I couldn't believe it! I was not prepared for the way the piercing was done. I was sitting in the waiting area for my turn, just looking at magazines- and I flipped to a page where a girl was getting her eyebrow pierced. My Mom leaned over and read the article and we looked over the sequence of picture together. We just looked at each other in awe - what a huge fucking needle! My Mother's eyes got big, and she asked me if I still wanted to do it. Up until that moment, there was nothing that I had ever wanted more. I just sat there as a trillion thoughts ran through my head. I had to get it done, I would look like a pussy if I walked out, and my Mom would get to gloat and rub it in.
I decided to stay. I sat there on the table and held my breath. I felt like I might pass out, but kept pushing thoughts about how complete I would finally be once it was all over. The guy came in wearing rubber gloves and looking excited, which made me even more nervous. He clamped my eyebrow and prepared my jewelry, while my Mom just stared at me. At that moment I wondered if she was disappointed that she couldn't talk me out of it. Oh well, too late for that!
The piercer had finished preparing everything and was ready to stick the needle through my eyebrow... I think I closed my eyes, but don't really remember. The feeling was unbelievable! I felt just a pinch and looked in the mirror- this needle was just hanging out of my face - literally! I loved it. My Mother looked horrified. He slipped the silver ring through the fresh new hole in my brow- and I was complete. That was it, just a quick rundown of how to take care of the piercing and what not to do to avoid getting it infected. I could barely even hear him. I just wanted to get outside so someone could "check me out." I don't think I stopped looking in the mirror the rest of the night.
Piercing my eyebrow opened so many doors for me with other body modifications. The feeling I had was addictive, so a couple years later I had my labret pierced, and then my tongue. I have 7 tattoos and plans for many more in the future. Tattoos and piercings mark a certain moment in your life. When you look in the mirror after a new piercing or tattoo, and you don't look the same as yesterday - it's like having complete power over your life at least for the moment, or until a new body modification. I am so happy that I didn't walk out that door when I got my first piercing. If I would have, I never would have had the strength and the insight I have today. I learned a lot about myself through that single experience.