Piercings and Tattoos

Considering my fear of unnecessary use of needles, even I'm amazed that I have pierced ears. My mom and I did this little venture together and held each other's hands. (This was back in the day when they stuck a cork behind your earlobe and jabbed it in.) I tried to flee after the first one was done but she was stronger than me. Plus, the whole adventure was my idea.

Needless to say, I do not have a tattoo. It's never going to happen.

I am not a teenager but I seem to know an awful lot of people who have chosen this version of self expression. I can't pick up People Magazine without some 20-year old, 40-year old, 60-year old wearing a gorgeous dress and showing the world her ink work. I turn the page quickly.

I worked in one of those middle-of-the-mall jewelry stands when I was about 15-years old. The only reason I got the job was it required a steady hand with the engraving pen and the owner liked my handwriting.

By then, that ear-piercing gun contraption had been invented and he informed me that I would also be required to perform that task. There was an exchange student at our school and some of my friends brought her in after hours so I could pierce her ears. She said, "Now I am like cow." (For you non-farm people, that's how they used to identify cows -- tag them in the ear.")

I'm very relieved that no one was into tattoos during that time.