My best friend got her cartilage pierced when she was in the 8th grade.

A girl in my sixth grade class got hers pierced when she was in the fourth grade.

I got my cartilage pierced at nineteen after waiting years for it.

For me, it is more than just a piece of jewelry. I have always wanted my cartilage pierced, however, I am putting in my deceased father’s earring to always carry a part of my guardian angel with me. After waiting three years, the time was right to finally get the piercing.

With my best friend in tow (who took pictures, of course) I went and got it done earlier this week!

When I tell you I was freaking out, I was freaking out. Even with having broken multiple bones and had surgery, I still turn into a little baby and freak out when I know I am about to face pain. With only having two holes in each ear, I was so unsure what the stabbing of a needle for my cartilage was going to be like.

Thank goodness, the piercer, Ian, was so used to people freaking out (he said that I was nothing compared to most people, but I don’t believe him). He totally tricked me, which helped make it easier. After marking a dot on my ear in Sharpie as to where the piercing would go, he said he was going to mark another one so I could decide where I want. While talking to my best friend, he stabbed the needle through without me even noticing! Since it felt different than the marker, I started asking profusely “did you do it?! did you do it?!” to which he kept denying until the earring was fully clasped on my ear and the process was over. He definitely made the experience a lot easier!

I am so happy with the way it turned out and am so glad I did this. I can’t wait for the six weeks to pass so I can put my daddy’s earring in!

Do you have any piercings with a story behind them? Tell me about it below!