My First Public Embarrassment

Let's visualize a long, pointed, stainless steel object breaking through your skin. That anticipation for the instant sting of an alien object building up in you until you might explode. The pointed torture device penetrates your arm with nauseating force. The color in your face completely evaporates and your stomach starts tightening like it's going to backlash at any moment. The sweat drops down your forehead and you clench your eyes shut as the room starts spinning around you. Right when you feel like you can't take anymore, you look over at your doctor and realize the shot has been successful... five minutes ago. 

If you haven't guessed already, I have a huge phobia of needles. All my life I have fought every trip to the doctor, I have cried numerous times (hours before I've even arrived to the office), and I have fainted. All these behaviors of mine have lessened over the years, but my minor belonephobia hasn't really ever left me. Thus, my appointments that involve shots seem to always result in me fainting on the chair, but never in front of more than two people. 

My ears have been pierced for years and I had only suffered from slight nausea after both of the procedures, so I thought to myself "Hey, I'm almost 19 years old, they use a gun, it will be quick and painless, why not get my ears pierced again, right?!" This was a major mistake. 

It was Valentines day of 2009 and my roommates and I had decided to go out for dinner and while we were there, we would get my ears pierced in Claires. Once this decision was made, my mind went on a rampage and I felt like I had to pee and vomit all the way to the jewelry store. 

As I walked in with my short, little sundress and my fake "perky" attitude, my roommates became oblivious to my eternal war going on all throughout my body. I walked over to the "death chair" like I was walking the Green Mile. I sat down and awaited my worse nightmare to come upon me in front of all my roommates, the piercing lady, and the handful of customers in the store. 

My hands were shaking, my smile was plastered onto my face, the gun was raised to my ear and as I took a deep breath, it punctured my lobe and a fake diamond took its place. It was quick, it was painless, and the second piercing was just the same. As I sat there with my new earrings, I felt so proud of myself for not letting my anxiety get the best of me; my phobia had been conquered! 

Once my roommates left to go look at other items in the store, I began to feel that nausea creeping up within me like the crypt keeper knocking on my door, waiting for me to relinquish all my noble actions and pride to a stupid little needle. I was determined to not let it conquer me, so I strode forward and tried to make conversation with one of my roomies but as soon as my hand touched her shoulder, all my conscious thoughts went out the window. 

That's right, I fainted. Not only did I fall completely back and hit my head on one of the earring holders, but I had pulled my roommate down with me in her attempt to hold me up, AND as a result of falling, my dress had flown up, exposing all of me to Claires. All I remember is opening my eyes and seeing a crowd surrounding me.  

After that experience I'm sure I scarred quite a few kids and probably blinded everyone in the store. My little piercing expedition had earned me my first real public embarrassment and as I look back on it, I'm kind of glad that it happened; it makes one funny story, and I have my pierced ears to look at every morning. :)