My ADDICTIONS craved (for now)

At A Glance Author Brandon Contact bcweigel@hotmail.com Artist Chad Studio Addictions Location Fargo, ND

Most people know that body modification is very addicting. How appropriate that the local tattoo / body piercing place is called "Addictions." I have only been into the whole body modification thing for about a year, but I am completely fascinated by the entire subject. Even the stuff that kind of makes me say "Why?"

I have always wanted to get my tongue pierced from the first time I saw one of my friends with one. I never really could though, because I was either too young, in school (where they don't allow body piercings or tattoos), in a relationship (she didn't like the idea), at my job (can't wait tables mumbling), or broke. Well, I went off to college and I am finally on my own. I'm on BME probably every other day, reading about people's experiences and looking at photos. I finally realize that I can get my tongue pierced now. Just like my other piercing experiences (lobes, stretching my lobes, and septum), I had to do it that day. So, I went over to my friend's dorm room and called up the place and they said that they were taking walk-ins that day. I was so excited, but my friend thought I wasn't really going to do it. So my friend and I drove over to the studio.

When we got there, the guy behind the counter told me that the piercing guy was to come in at 4:00. It was about 3:50, so I went next door to get a glass of water. By the time I got back, Chad had arrived. He was really cool and very knowledgeable. I had to fill out the usual forms, and then I selected jewelry. I could choose between a few 14 ga barbells, but he had one 12 ga that I liked. I decided on that one, paid my $54 and he then began to set up.

As he was setting up, he could not find a 12 ga needle to go with my barbell, but I told him that 10 ga was no big deal. He said it might bleed a little more, but I didn't care. When he was all set up, he asked me to come back. He told me to take the little cup on the counter and swish it in my mouth. From all the experiences I have read, I was expecting Listerine. This stuff was clear and it tasted like "sterile." I swished the fluid around and sat down. After this, he took out some gauze and dried my tongue. I have never heard of this before, but I figured it was to better grab my tongue. He then marked my tongue and checked and re-checked it about 6 times. Chad then put the clamp on and said that it might be uncomfortable. He noticed my septum ring and said that my tongue was going to be nothing compared to the septum. It wasn't. He stuck the needle through, put the barbell in, screwed the ball on, and that was it. He then gave me the aftercare instructions and a business card and that was it. I tipped him $5 and my friend and I left.

We left the studio and went to a drugstore to get some mouthwash. All that they had was Listerine and other stuff with alcohol in it. I didn't really want anything with alcohol, but I went with Listerine. I went back to my room and mixed it 1/2 and 1/2 with some water. I took some Excedrin and chilled the whole night. When I woke up the day after, my tongue was pretty swollen, but I just sucked on a little ice and it went away in no time. I was sucking on ice for the next 24 hours and dying of hunger. I decide I was going to try and eat. No big deal. Just that the food gets stuck around the barbell. I can eat pretty good now, albeit slowly, and I've only had it for 4 days. I smoked like 20 minutes after I got it and it didn't hurt or anything at all. Now I carry around a little squirt bottle with my 1/2 Listerine, 1/2 water mixture and swish and spit after every cigarette.

If you're thinking about getting this, do it. It doesn't hurt and if that's the main reason you're afraid of getting ANY piercing, consider this. IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT FOREVER. It is knd of a pain not being able to eat for awhile, but the stomach pains youhave are probably going to be the worst part about the whole thing. You do have to take care of your piercings if you want to be able to keep them. It's a fun piercing, and something to play with when you're sitting in another boring class.

I'm definitely addicted to body piercing and tattooing. I don't have a tattoo, but I'm designing one now. I'm debating over what piercing I should get next(eyebrow, frenum, nipples). If have any questions or want to talk, I'm in BME Personals (Brandon, age 20) and my e-mail is bcweigel@hotmail.com