Thing to Do #75: Get a Tattoo and/or Piercing-The Piercing

In this day and age, there are few people below the age 30 that don’t have one or the other.  For girls, a piercing was probably pretty easy to achieve if they ever had their ears pierced (so, technically, I achieved this Thing to Do when I was 10).  However, I have had two other body piercings and even one tattoo, so I have gone above and beyond in accomplishing this task.

It was popular when I was a teenager to get all kinds of things pierced, probably even more so than today.  My parents let me go to Myrtle Beach for Spring Break when I was a Senior in High School.  If I haven’t said it already, I’ll say now that I was born old.  Even on spring break, where alcohol and temptations were aplenty, the worst thing I did the three days I was there (other than try to use someone else’s ID to get into a dance club-I was 2 weeks away from being 18 and was the only one in my group not old enough to get into the clubs) was get my first body piercing. 

It was the last day I was there and decided last minute to get my belly button pierced; it wasn’t even a peer pressure thing as I think maybe only one or two of my girlfriends had theirs done.  I just thought it was neat.  Back then, any retail store in Myrtle Beach would do piercings; things have since changed and the laws have become stricter about being at least age 18.  It was still the legal age back then too, but the guy simply asked if I was, I said yes, and that was that.  I don’t even think I signed any release or form.  It was done in a small changing room, with me half-sitting, half-slumped on a bench. 

The clamp that pinched my skin hurt worse than the needle and for the next few days, I could barely stand to have the waistband of my jeans buttoned, as it rubbed against the piercing.  Predictably, it soon became infected but I treated it and all was well.  From 17 to 23 I had the piercing in until I had some minor surgery.  I had to take the ring out to go into surgery and the hole grew up in the few days the ring was out.  I got it re-pierced soon after, this time in a proper facility done with sterilized tools.  The piercer pointed out the original was even crooked but the second go-round never got infected and it has always been easier to change rings.  I still have it in to this day, something I forget I have until someone asks me about it when I’m in a bathing suit.

My second piercing came when I was 21 when I decided it would be sexy to have my nipple pierced.  I went with a friend and hopped up in the chair, all big and brave.  I sat there as the piercer prepared the tools but stayed dressed until he pointed out that he “couldn’t do it through my sweater.”  I tried to be calm and it hurt badly when he put the clamp on but I didn’t make a noise until he started through with the needle.  I couldn’t contain myself any longer and finally sucked in my breath.  When I did, he STOPPED and looked at me.  I shouted “Don’t stop now!”  Afterwards, while he was preparing a bandage, I looked down and saw a thick trickle of blood running down my stomach.  While I am not quesy about blood, it was not expected and I asked if that was supposed to happen.  The piercer told me every now and then and sent me on my way.  I kept the ring in for about six months but it never stopped hurting.  It always seemed infected and I had to even shield it from the pressure of water in the shower.  I finally took it out and after seven years, the scar has almost faded completely.  To this day, I still feel that the piercing wasn’t done correctly.

I’ll save the tattoo post for another day…

What piercings do you have or what is the craziest you’ve seen?  I’ve only seen in photos those “corset” piercings-OUCH!