Things you wouldn't think would be complicated

We decided not to get Robin's ears pierced when she was born. Most Costa Rican parents routinely pierce the ears of newborn girls, but I figured (and Alex agreed) that it was a personal decision and that we'd have it done at such point as she asked for it. Some women never do. And, aside from having to clarify to some people that our newborn child was in fact a girl, that was that.

So here we are, eight years later, and Robin has decided she wants pierced ears. We agreed to let her, but since it only came up a month or so ago, we figured we'd tie it to her eighth birthday, partly as a symbol of growing up, and partly as a way of putting Julia off when she says she wants to get hers done too. (She doesn't say it as often or with as much assurance as Robin, and I've seen those hands. They are just not clean enough often enough to share a body with newly pierced ears.)

I asked the mothers of a couple of Robin's friends where--outside of the neonatal unit--one goes to pierce ears, and nobody seemed to know. One of the other mothers is actually looking for the same information, so I told her I'd let her know what I found out.

In the states, my first stop would be the mall - Spencer Gifts pierces ears, right? And probably most jewelry stores. So when Alex and I were at a strip mall a few weeks ago, we stopped by a tiny little jewelry store to ask. Sure, we were told, there's a lady that does that, but she only comes in on Sundays. I asked what time, looked at the studs they had, and then, for some reason, it occurred to me to mention the piercing gun.

Oh, no, she doesn't use one of those.

Excuse me?

No, no. She just pushes them in.

Alrighty then. You have yourself a nice day.

After getting out of there, I kind of forgot about it for a while. Or maybe I blacked it out. Last week we were at a bigger, better, nicer mall and Alex reminded me that her birthday was coming up, so we stopped at several jewelry stores and kiosks there. Not a single one of them pierces ears or knows of anyone that does, although a couple of them asked why I didn't just do it myself. One of them said she's been looking for someplace to get her daughter's ears pierced, and has had no more luck than I.

On the way home, we stopped at a nice jewelry store - the kind of place where they speak English if they think you need them to, and where Alex and I got our wedding rings lo these many years ago. Again, very friendly, but again, no. They had heard, though, that a nearby pharmacy offers the service.

We didn't have time to stop by there that day, but I went in this week and, finally, was rewarded with a Yes. The lady who does it wasn't in at the moment, but she is available during regular business hours and, yes, she uses a piercing gun. The customer supplies the earrings.

Today I set out to buy the earrings, so first I stopped by to see if there was anything special I needed to know. I asked for the lady and was directed to a back room where I found an actual nurse in an actual medical office. Better and better. I asked about the earrings and she said any kind would be fine, although it's helpful if they have a pointed tip. I asked how it's done and she said she applies a topical anesthetic first. Excellent. I asked to see the gun and she said Oh, no, nobody uses those. You just push them in.

Square one, why do you look so familiar?

Apparently, people used to pierce ears with the gun, but because of the risk of infection, nobody does anymore. How, exactly, pushing any old earrings (and not even pointed ones) through a kid's ears with your hands is supposed to reduce infection, nobody has said, but the nurse actually mentioned HIV.

Fine. If that's the only way to do it, it'll have to be done that way. I'm certain that the nurse will use all medical precautions, and the topical anesthetic is a plus. But is she good at it? Can she get them straight and even, shoving an earring in with her thumb?

I know I can't change Costa Ricans' views on the subject, but y'all will indulge me for a moment here, won't you? The CDC knows of no instances of HIV transmission through tattooing or body piercing. No instances. That would be none.

So what to do? Well, we'll go to the nurse, I guess. But on the way, we're going to stop by Heredia's only tattoo & body piercing studio. If it looks clean and professional, we're having it done there. HIV is a non-issue. Regular infection is possible, but is more likely to come from her own hands than the rubber gloves of whoever does the piercing. And whether they use a piercing gun or simply do it by hand, at least at a tattoo studio it will be someone who has some experience, and who is used to being held accountable not only for the sterility of the environment, but also for the aesthetic of the final result.

And like Alex says, if she's watching some hairy guy tattoo a skull and crossbones on a biker, she'll be so distracted she won't feel a thing.