You know, for many years the thought of getting a tattoo or piercing revolted me. Then I grew more accepting (getting to know people with "body modifications" and finding out that most of them aren't freaks helped). Eventually, I found myself even contemplating getting a tattoo. I laughed it off at first but kept thinking about it, even going so far as to think about "what and where". And, I found myself thinking that if something means that much to someone, why not show it off? After all, if you've got it flaunt it, right? Then, two weeks ago, I went out with two friends, both of whom got piercings. Watching the process, it occurred to me that a piercing is a piercing, be it a single ear or anything else. If you've got pierced ears, I don't think you've got much of a leg to stand on to criticize folks who pierce other places. It's all a matter of degree. I personally don't need or want metal hanging off me, espcially from some of the places people have it done, but there's no way I can describe my friends as masochists. That day, I finally got a small tattoo high on my left shulder where a shirt sleeve will easily conceal it. To look at it, it's a simple geometric pattern. To me, it's something more. Do I enjoy pain? No. Am I a "freak"? Well, that's wide open to debate and one little tattoo doesn't figure too much in that discussion :-)