When I was a teenager, I didn't know many people that had body piercing, but the few I did know I was envious of. My mom always told me if I ever got my ears pierced she would disown me. When I was about 19 I met this young lady at work that I was attracted to and asked her out. She had several piercing. That was part of the attraction. I secretly hoped that she would introduce me to body piercing and encourage me to get something done. At the very least I hoped I could ask her to help me find a place and get the courage to get something done.
At A Glance Author aniorange Contact aniorange@bme.anon IAM aniorange When Five years ago Artist Robert Studio Dogstar Location Durham, N.C. Her and I didn't work out. We only lasted a week. However it game me the courage and determination I needed anyway. I decided that I was just going to get it done on my own. So where do I go? I was quite naive at this point. I don't think I even realized I could get pierced at a tattoo shop. I tried to think, where would I go. I knew this one place that sold body jewelry and other "alternative" attire, so I went there. I talked with the lady behind the counter and told her I wanted to get pierced. I decided I wanted to get my eyebrow pierced. I picked out some jewelry and she gave me the card of a new shop in town and told me I should take the jewelry there. I bought a 16 gauge bent barbell with plastic purple balls on the end. I didn't realize what a stupid choice that was at the time.
I took my jewelry and went across town to the tattoo place. I ventured inside, set the jewelry down and told them what I wanted. I just happened to be talking to the piercer. He told me that we could not use that jewelry and that the "old hippy" at the store I was at did not know what she was talking about. I was a little taken back but I could tell this guy was a bit passionate about what he did. He showed me some jewelry we could use. My choice was an odd one. You see, I strive sometimes too hard to be different. I didn't just want a normal shiny silver bent barbell. I ended up choosing a curved barbell this time. It was time to get pierced.
Robert, the piercer at Dogstar Tattoo said he had to put the jewelry in to be autoclaved. He said it would be about 20 minutes and he told me what I would later learn to be his usual patter. He was going to have a smoke and we would do it after that. I sat around and looked at magazines and portfolios. The place was pretty quiet. I guess it was not their busy part of the day. Twenty minutes when by and Robert came back in from his smoke.
Robert invited me back to his little "booth" or room if you will. He had me sit down and he started to get ready. He put on gloves and put little spots of different chemicals down on the table. He got his needle and the jewelry out as well as some forceps. He put a rubber band around the handle end of the forceps and proceeded to place the forceps on my eyebrow. He got the needle and asked me if I was ready, to which I replied, "Do it." A rather quick stick later and he was putting in the jewelry. The initial stick was not even enough to remember. The next few seconds where uncomfortable as he worked the jewelry in and put the ball on, and worked the forceps out of the way. He then handed me a mirror to look at.
I looked into that mirror with amazement. I have now joined the ranks of the pierced. It was so easy. I could feel the excitement building within me. Robert gave me instructions on how to keep it clean. He game me a bottle of iodine, which I now find quite odd and told me to clean it with that. We both know now that is not the way to do it. I have been back to him several times and he changed his instructions but that's another story. I paid the man and strolled outside and to my car.
I was so excited about my new piercing I didn't know what to do. I drove to the mall, which was not far away. I was hopping up and down in my seat with excitement on the way there. I went in the mall and just started walking. I walked around the whole mall, from one end to another and back again with no destination in sight. I was just so excited I didn't want to shop or stop anywhere. I just had to walk off this energy. It was not long before I started thinking, I have to do this again.
I am now, and always will be hooked.