Lookie here. I'm not exactly the traditional hard-core bodmod guy type—fairly conservative (even if I hate George Dubbya), and have never seriously considered getting anything metal intentionally punctured through my body before. That is, until this summer.
At A Glance Author danfda Contact danfda@yahoo.com Artist michelle Studio Steve's Tattoo Location central WI My girlfriend had wanted her belly button pierced for as long as I had known her, and I always teased her about not getting it done (her parents are very conservative too). One night waiting outside the movie theatre to see American Pie 2, we made a bet—if she got her navel pierced before she went back to school, then I would get my belly button (or nipples, she didn't really care which) done with her. I thought it was a very safe bet, considering I had seen her ask her dad before and his very-nearly violent reaction. Nice guy. Huge guy. Not gonna happen, right?
Oops. She asked the parental units another time, when I wasn't there, and apparently her dad didn't care and agreed almost immediately. Did I believe her? No, of course not. Her dad simply was out of his mind. He'd come to his senses. I went to her house for supper that night, and we had a talk. By it's end, he was back in my corner—no belly button rings! None. Those things are for the devil. I told her I'd still go through with the bet if it, by some remote stroke of fate, her father was struck by lightning and his brains melted, letting it happen.
I stopped by her place of employment two days later—a Monday, if it matters—to say hello to my sweetheart (she works at a fast food joint). We talked as she made my sub (okay, it was Subway), and then said that I would be mad at her.
I was naïve enough to ask why.
Lo and behold, she showed me the little 14 gauge CBR in her cute little belly button. My initial reaction was one of shock, and yes, partial disgust. I didn't eat my whole sub—unheard of for me. I was utterly amazed that she went through with it. In retrospect, I'm not sure why I was, but that is irrelevant. It took me a day or so to finally warm up to it, but I did, and now am glad she did it. She also said that I didn't have to go through with the bet if I didn't want to, so I said yes! and was relieved.
If that was how the story ended, I wouldn't be writing this. The next Friday I was up in town looking for a surge protector for my PC and I passed Steve's Tattoo. I thought about the bet, told myself no, and went to the next place. I passed it again on the way back to my truck, and I just walked in. It was, to speak quite bluntly, a spur of the moment thing.
Now I had thought about the bet some over the week, but I never thought I'd actually follow through. I had heard good things about Steve's, but I still don't know what possessed me to do it. The woman at the front desk asked me if she could help me, and I said, "Sure. How much for these bad boys?" (that's no joke—I actually said that, but give me some credit, 'cause I was kind of nervous).
She asked me if I wanted both, and I told her I was for a bet, so yeah. Why not? 90 bucks later...
In the back room, behind the burly guy tattooing some exotic, convoluted design on another big guy's arm, Michelle told me what she was going to do, how she was gonna do it, how to clean it, and all that good stuff. She was very knowledgeable, and had several piercings of her own, so I figured she knew what she was doing. She told me to remove my shirt, which I did so. She cleansed the nipples thoroughly, showing me all of the goods and talking to me the whole time about the process.
We shared a good laugh about my girlfriends' experience (Michelle also pierced her, with great results). When she got her belly button pierced, a friend she brought with fainted when Michelle was explaining the cleaning procedures. Usually, they wait until the needle, but not that time.
After that, Michelle dotted both nipples and asked if I thought they were straight. I said yeah, and she clamped my left one. Breathe in, out slowly, a quick burning sensation, and I had a huge needle through my nipple.
The next was even quicker. No pain. Now everybody who says so is lying through their teeth. She put the rings and then the beads in each, cleaned 'em again, and told me to take a look. They looked sweet. I was astounded that I had done this to myself, and told Michelle. I also told her about my girlfriend's bet, and she laughed and said I was a good man. I don't know about that, but my girlfriend was certainly surprised.
I recommend doing it, if you're considering it. Mine was crazy how sudden it was, but you'll have that, I guess. Bonus: the girlfriend likes 'em. And she likes to play with them. Bonus.
Cool beans.