"You might want to tell them they will be lying down..."

Day 36, May 7, 1997

Arroyo Grande & vicinity

247 km in three days

We gave Thunder a bath, and then Erica and I went in search of haircuts. I really liked the short cut I had been given before we left, but it had grown out quickly and I looked as though I was wearing a bowl cut. I should have known better, but I went to an $8 supercuts type hairstylist, and my hair was butchered! It looked like a real bowl cut, but with crooked bangs.

I went straight to Tanya and had her beg her stylist to fit me in so I could have my hair fixed. I should have gone there in the first place, but I didn't want to spend the $30 (U.S.). I did manage to see Tanya's stylist, and after Erica saw what they were able to do, she had her cut fixed too! We both felt better (not like geeks, anyway), but neither of us is happy with the final result. And knowing my hair will grow (so it can be cut again) is no comfort!

We had to rush from our emergency hairdressing to the studio. We met Gregorio and his students at Body Adornments so that we could be live demonstration mannequins. Gregorio had offered to pierce us, and who were we to refuse such an offer? We felt better pretending it was a favor on our part.

I was having my navel pierced, and I insisted on going first--I have passed out giving blood, and I have always been a little squeamish. Gregorio began his work, all the while talking to the class and asking them questions. He had me stand so that he could demonstrate the preparations and marking where the needle would go. I was getting nervous--I wasn't going to have to stand through all this, was I? Fortunately, as part of Gregorio's running commentary, he added: "You might want to tell them they will be lying down for the piercing."

Once I was horizontal, Gregorio called Ralph in and had him hold my hand. Then he said: "OK, I am going to count to five and then you'll be done." I could feel the needle, "One...you're done, that's it." Wow, too easy! I spent a few more minutes lying down while he pulled the ring through and closed it, but I was soon on my feet. My adrenaline was rushing, but otherwise there were no side affects. I was might proud of myself: no hysterics, no tears, no blacking out.

Ralph was next, he had a ring put in his upper ear. Then Erica, who also had her navel done. Her piercing was a little more difficult, she had scar tissue around her belly button and we could hear "Ow, ow, ow!" Once standing up again, she didn't feel well, and she was ushered back to the table to recover. Ralph and I were guided in as well, and we were instructed how to care for our new body holes. Wash twice a day; soak in salt solution; rotate and clean the ring; no pools, Jacuzzis, or lakes until it heals, which could take months in the case of navels. Suddenly, I was dizzy, and in an instant, I had fainted. This was forty-five minutes after the big moment. Maybe I should have eaten lunch.

That evening we returned to Tanya and Gregorio's for a BBQ. There were quite a number of us: many of the staff, as well as the students in Gregorio's class gathered together to eat, drink, talk, and play Pictionary. Tanya, Amy, and I, of course, were the winners.