“18 and Graduated” OR “Who Are You?!”

With four older brothers, I would hear them ask my Dad if they could get or do a lot of crazy things! It usually had to do with getting a tattoo. My Dad would respond by telling them that they could when they are, “18 and graduated.”

I have a vivid memory of me being awake one morning when my Mom was leaving for work. I sat in my Dad‘s chair at the Head of the table as my Mom stood in the living room and asked what I was doing today. It was sometime after my graduation but I can’t pinpoint the exact day because my Dad had a triple bypass the Monday after my graduation ceremony.

At that time, having your cartilage pierced was beyond cool! I told my Mom that that was what I was going to do and she just looked at me and said, “No you’re not!” I remember looking right into her eye and saying, “Yes, I am!“. She thought for a moment and realized that I was already, “18 and graduated” and she just said, “Oh!” and left.

So, I don’t have any tattoos but that was my one rebellious act after graduation. It took six months before I could sleep on the left side of my head. I have received compliments about it over the years and I appreciate it because it shows my age. Both of my ears are triple pierced and I haven’t worn earrings in SO many years! I think I figured out about 10 years ago that one of my second holes may have closed.

I don’t wear any earrings in my ears aside from that earring in my cartilage. I don’t have enough hand control anymore to put them properly into my ears. Now that my hair is short, I never wear my hair back in a ponytail so it covers my ears and my cartilage piercing isn’t very noticeable.

Sean helps me get into my bed in the night if he is home. He just picks me up from my motorized chair after I situate it parallel to my bed against the window. Thursday night he laid on my bed as I was trying to get my chair parallel to my bed. I was looking down and I used my left hand to tuck my hair behind my ear on my left side.

He incredulously asked me if I had my cartilage pierced! I touched my ear and told him, “Yeah. I’ve had it all of your life!“ Sean was just realizing this Thursday! I know he doesn’t notice a whole lot of things most times but I thought it was strange that something I’ve had his entire life, he didn’t even notice! He stood up and got closer and touched the earring and told me it looked really cool!

He told me that I should get my ears pierced all the way up. I looked at my Mom and kind of laughed and told him that I have three holes in each ear. His mouth dropped open as he asked me, “Who are you?! My Mom and I laughed really hard as Sean got me into bed.