A long time ago in a Cara far, far away, I had a couple piercings. They didn’t last very long, except for my belly button ring which was removed about two years ago after wearing it for 15 years. I still have five holes in one ear and two in the other, all with tasteful studs in the holes past the primary ones.
I had flirted with the idea of getting a tattoo and even pinpointed where I would get it (the back of my neck, up against the hairline). I was scared of its permanence, though, and worried about what would happen if New Kids on the Block ever went out of style. Then I met my husband and all thoughts of a tattoo vanished. So, I thought I had moved beyond all of this mishegas. Until two days ago.
My BFF came all the way from Canada to spend four days in Ireland with us. She is a mother of three and for all intents and purposes, pretty conservative. When she said she wanted to do something crazy on the trip, I imagined she meant drinking more than we had three years ago when she visited me in NYC and I was still single. When she said she wanted to get her nose pierced, I laughed it off. No way would SHE get her nose pierced.
She mentioned it occasionally and on the third day asked where we could take her to get her nose pierced. A voice that I wasn’t sure was my own, said, “I’ll ask the neighbor where we can have it done.”
WE? Where did THAT come from? I knew the moment it escaped my mouth I was going to get my nose pierced. I wasn’t sure why. Perhaps I just wanted to do something crazy with my BFF in Ireland to create an unforgettable memory. It was only after I had a needle shoved through the side of my nose and a little gemstone sparkled in a previous nondescript portion of my face that it felt safe to let an old desire surface. I had actually always wanted a nose ring! All of the piercings I did in my youth were in places no one could see. They were my secret. I was afraid to sport visible markings that I imagined would blare in neon lights above my head, “Weirdo.” What would my co-workers say? What would my dates say? So, I kept my secret hidden: I did not like to be conventional.
As I looked in the mirror and saw my lovely new nose ring, I was happy. Happy with myself that I no longer worry about what others think of me, and happy with my husband who supported me 100% when I said I wanted to get my nose pierced. He did it without one second of hesitation. He actually thinks it’s cute!
My time in Ireland has brought me many happy moments, but if you asked me what was the most memorable thing from my time here, it would have to be my nose ring. A close second is the trip to the Cliffs of Moher–but that is an entirely different blog post.
Follow Cara on her adventure as she and her husband trek across Europe with their child. They quit their jobs in NYC and want to see the world before they die.
