No one actually thought I'd do it...

At A Glance Author Alanna Contact Koolaid_Goddess@wowmail.com Artist Pete Studio Agit Prop Location Ottawa

It was the best descision of my life!

The summer before I turned 16 was an interesting one. I really grew up that summer. That was the summer i decided that one day I would have my tongue piereced. I saw many people with tongue piercing and loved them all! I came to this site and read a lot of the stories. I was hooked.

The idea never really left my head, it was always stuck back there. "Get your tongue pierced" it said. That year i worked in a coffee and donut shop. It was in a gas station, and one of the gas attendants had her tongue pierced. She was definately a large part in convincing nothing bad would happen if I got it done at a clean studio and took care of it right. A year after my first thought of piercing my tongue i worked at a camp, and met 3 people with there tongues pierced. 2 girls I knew got their tongues pierced. It was all around me!

While I had always been SAYING I wanted my tongue pierced, no one actually believed that I of all people would do it.

November 2000. My friend Shan and I decided do go downtown and she would get her navel pierced and I would get my tongue. I talked to my parents and they were fine with it. Since i was over 16, I didn't need their permission anyways, and they knew that.

We had planned on going on Friday. It turned out Shan had to work that night so we couldn't go. I was dissapointed, we didn't have any time of at the same time. I was upset and thought I'd NEVER go. I was at a party that night and to say the least I was pissed.

The next day my friend Jane called. She wanted to go downtown to get different bead for her belly button. PERFECT TIMING JANE!!!We went downtown and went into Agit Prop. It was very clean and a very friendly environment. Jane got her bead changed first, then I filled out the waiver. Then we sat on the couch until Pete was done piercing the tongues of the 2 girls ahead of us.

Pete finally called me in to sit down. I got in there and it was like a huge denstist chair! I sat down and Pete started to explain how to take care of it after and what he was going to do. I wouldn't be able to eat anything spicy, with sharp edges and nothing with yeast or dairy products. These rules for 2 weeks. No oral contact for 2 weeks either. I would have to rinse with listerine 5-7 times daily. He sad Midol was good for the pain. I had to rinse with listerine. He opened up the package that teh clamp and needle came in. That was reassuring! Then he asked me to stick out my tongue and push down the sides. At first I had NO clue what he meant by that! I figured it out then he clamped down my tongue. He asked if I was ready then he put the needle through. It felt like a pinch! It hurt a little when he had to twist my tongue to get the bottom bead on the barbell. I was DONE! I couldn't believe i had my tongue pierced! Pete told me if I had any problems to come back and see him. Then Jane and I were on our way!

Jane wanted to get a pita so I went with her. The food looked so good, but I couldn't eat it :( I saw someone from the camp I had worked at. He was the first person to see it after Jane. For the rest of that day it was fine.

Sunday...I woke up and my tongue was swollen, not as bad as I had expected though. It hurt a little, but i took the midol as prescribed and all was good.

Monday I went to school, and everyone was so surprised! They all admited to me that none of them had expected me to do it! It was great!

All in all the healing was great. It was only swollen for 3 days. it did take a while to learn how to chew all over again. I never knew your tongue had such a big part in chewing!

It is now almost four weeks later. I love this thing, it's addicting to play with!I still have fun showing it off, and hearing everyone say "I never actually believed you'd do it!".

I still occassionally bit on the barbell when I chew and I worry about playing with it the cold incase it freezes to my lip!

This is what I want to say to anyone considering a first piercing...

-If YOU and only YOU want to get it done and you're sure about it, go for it.

-Even if you are of legal age, it's still nice to talk to your parents about it instead of going behind their backs.

-If you feel uncomfortable(not just nervous about he piercing) at the studio, look around a bit

AND LAST...

-HAVE FUN WITH IT!