Back in 1994, I had my nose pierced. I had gotten it done by a guy who used a piercing gun and then quickly swapped out the piercing jewelry for a post of my choice. I had left it in for a couple of years – I was a figure skater and I remember one time being on the ice with my coach and swiping at my nose and it fell out onto the ice. My coach watched (in horror) as I plucked it off the ice and put it back in and said “oops…”

I have forgotten why I took it out. It might be because my allergies are always having my nose ‘on the run’ and I got tired of dealing with it; I really can’t remember. Just one day I took it out and was ‘done with it.’

My ex husband never liked it so he was happy I took it out, but I found that I missed it in a strange way. He moved out in March, 2008 and I began a ‘new life’ so to speak. I started shedding pounds (not that I’m svelte now but I was a fatty then) and maybe I could call it a mid-life crisis or maybe not. I played with the idea of getting it redone but was terrified of a ‘non piercing gun’ approach.

The idea of someone shoving a hollow needle through my nose made me pretty squeamish-the scaredy whuss I am…so I decided to hold that thought for a while. I was dating a man for a few months and he shunned the idea of me doing this. When he dumped me in mid July I said okay that’s it. Who’s in charge here? I AM! I asked around for some recommendations and was told by my friend, L, as well as a lady I know at the Harley Shop that Body Exotic in San Jose, CA had been around for years and years and they used ‘hospital-like’ techniques.

So I called them up and they told me the process and I made the 20 minute drive to get it done. Daniel was my piercer, and he had me choose my jewelry to start. I chose a very tiny diamond (no not a real one). I was put in a room to lay down and he came in and prepped me. He looked at my nose and bent the jewelry to fit my nostril so it wouldnt be poking me.

The first time I had it done, that was never done; I wound up taking a pair of pliers and bending my jewelry. Then it began. He said “Okay you might feel a pinch…” My reaction? I started humming the Star Spangled Banner! I have NO idea where that came from! But it was over pretty quickly and I could see the jewelry when I crossed my eyes .

I was very happy with the experience, but I kept knocking it out in the middle of the night which sucked. This went on for a couple of months – but finally stopped. It healed nicely and I’ve been able to change it but I am always very careful to disinfect any jewelry going in. Had the navel pierced a few weeks later and that story is on this website’s corresponding belly ring story area.

I think I’m done punching holes in myself… I dont’ want to start whistling when I’m riding my Harley down the highway!