38 year old youth pastor finally gets it done!

At A Glance Author Mike Duke Contact yfcrox@hotmail.com Artist can't remember his name, he is the only piercer there Studio Artistic Skin Design Location Indianapolis

I can't believe it. I actually did it. Years ago when tongue piercing first hit the scene I thought "how aweful", now look at me, mine is pierced.

In my line of work, people really question if this is right or wrong. You see I am a youth pastor. I have been in a church setting for the last 13 years and have just recently moved out of the church to work with an organization called "Youth for Christ". I really feel that becasue of my tattoos and other piercings that I will have an in-road with certain youth.

I know alot of pewople look at me funny, and some parents probably want thier kids to stay away from me. I can handle that, I am a big boy. But when they get to know me and know that i have their kids best interest at heart then things are a little different.

when I told my family that I was goona do this they all shook their head and thought "when are you ever gonna grow up" , I told them never. I have been married for 18 years and I have 3 kids. A freshman in college, a sophomore & freshman in high school. The kids think it is cool that dad has a tongue ring 3 earrings, and eyebrow ring (that had to be taken out, that is a whole nother story) and 9 tattoos. But mom on the other hand says enough is enough. I do still have a few more places that I would like to tattooed. But as for peiercings, I do believe that I am done. So please read this story with an open mind.

A few days before I got it done I spent about 3 hours on BME reading other peoples experiences. I have talked with about 10 other people face to face who had it done, and everyone said the same thing. "You will find that when they clamp your tongue and pull it out that will hurt the worse. I cannot believe it, all my friends and others that I talked with and read their experience, L I E D !! Believe me, IT HURT BAD. When I was laying down (so the drool would be at a minumum) and he had the clamp on my tongue, I thought to myself this isn't going to be bad at all. Then he told me to take a deep breath and he would count to 5, well I did, and he didn't. When he got to three he stuck me, and W O W! What a shock to my system. If I would of been standing or sitting, I can qaurantee that I would of been on the floor. As soon as he got the needle out of my tongue I was so sore, and I thought WOW that is over, then he told me "know relax, I need to put the stud in your tongue". When he stuck that in my tongue I about passed out again. When I got my eyebrow pierced the ring was on the end of the needle so when he ran it through my eyebrow it just stayed there. I thought this would be the same way, oh boy, was I wrong. That was some severe pain, let me tell you.

Now that it is over and I am in the middle of the healing proceedure I do feel a little better. The first night sleeping was a little tough. I am looking forward to a good nights sleep tonight, I hope I get it.

I am a romantic at heart and when I heard that you had to wait 6 weeks to kiss I didnt like that. I asked my piercer and he said only 1 week. Just make sure that you remember that you have an open wound in your mouth so let it heal. SO I told my wife that in one week she will get the best kiss she has ever had in eighteen years.

Now I do not tell you this so you will change your mind and not get one. Look at me, I am a youth pastor, I work with high school kids all the time, everyday, and I have one. The reason I tell you this is so you will be prepared. It does hurt, it is uncomfortable, it is bothersome, but at least it is done. I know in a few days I will grow to love it, but as for now I wonder, "did I do the right thing". IN life we all have to make choices, and I know in the near future I will be happy. As for right now I think I have to go take another darvacet adn gargel that lovely listerine.

If you have any questions about piercings, or about what God thinks of them give me an email and we will chat. Until then, keep on piercing. Oh yeah, so you wont think I am a complete pansy I do have about $1,500 - $2,000 worth of art work on my body. So I am accoustomed to needles in a way. Thanks for listening and have a great day. God bless, Mike