That's it?

At A Glance Author Sara Contact smiles012@yahoo.com Artist Steve Studio Adrenaline Tattoos Location San Antonio, Texas

I guess I can start out by saying that when I was 14 or 15, I saw someone with a tongue ring and I knew that I had to have one. I had mentioned it a couple of times around my mom, and she just thought it was completely disgusting. I tried to do it myself with a piercing earring, which didn't go all the way through, and I don't recommend it at all. So I had to wait until I was 18.

It seems like every week that passed by, I wanted it more and more. When I finally turned 18, I decided I was going to get it done. On the Sunday before Spring break started, I called up John, my brother, and said, "hey can you take me today?" He acted like I was crazy, but said OK. We had talked about it before, and we decided to go where he had his ears done to a 10ga. So I drove over to his house, and we stayed there and watched TV and stuff until the studio opened at 2. The whole time I kept talkin and talking (I guess the rush was already hitting me), and looking at the clock. At 2, he looked at me and asked if I was ready. I ran out the front door and hopped into the car.

When I got there, I was a little shaky, and I wouldn't shut up. They had me fill out a form saying I wouldn't sue, and copied my ID. Then Steve asked me what kind of jewelry I wanted. I wanted a really bright neon greenish-yellowish color, but I have to have a clear ball for work, so I picked both. Then he led me to a room in the back. He made me rinse with listerine, and asked if I had any questions. I asked a million stupid questions, like will my tongue fall off, and what if you hit the nerve... He assured me that that wouldn't happen, and if it did, then the piercing would be free. Then he asked if I was ready.

I sat down in the chair, and he looked at the underside of my tongue to make sure the vain wasn't in the middle (make sure they do this, because if it is in the middle, the have to do it a little crooked to miss the vain). It wasn't so he marked it, and let me look at it to see if it was ok with me. Then he clamped it, and I kept trying to pull my tongue back in my mouth, but then I stopped. Most people say the clamps hurt, they didn't hurt me. Then he put a cork under my tongue, and poked the needle through. That's it?

He told me to lift my tongue up then into my mouth. Then stick it out again. He gave me a mirror, and it looked so awesome. He lectured me on how to clean it and stuff, then I thanked him and gave him a tip, and me and my brother left. We went straight to Sonic to get a slush, and went back to his house. He asked me to see it, and I stuck out my tongue, and when I brought it back in, I forgot to lift like Steve told me, and it got caught on my teeth. That hurt, and it made it bleed, but only a drop.

I had to work that night, and I was just fine, but the next morning, my tongue was all puffy! It was wired, and it hurt, but like a muscle ache. It went down by the end of the night, and I thought that's it? But the next morning it was puffy again. That went on for about 4 or 5 days, then it was fine. The only thing was that the bottom of my tongue was kinda white right around the piercing, and that scared me, but they said that was normal.

It took my parents 2 weeks to figure it out, but that's only because my school is dumb and called them at work... Three of my friends goth theirs pierced over spring break too, and the pricipal thought we were the devil or something. My parents thought it was gross, and didn't know what to do with me, but whatever. Now it's been a little over 3 months, and I love love love it! I really recommend it, and especially Steve if you live near San Antonio.

Also, I know that everyone loves to go to South Padre during spring break, but don't get pierced down there, my friend got her tongue done while there and they used too short of a barbell, and they did it soo crooked. But she took it out after a week, and it healed fine.

If you have any questions, e-mail me! : )~