am i old?

So I was sitting on the couch the other night watching a movie when I had a strange and urgent impulse to take my tongue piercing out. My jaw felt very tired and my teeth, as always, were sort of throbbing with a dull sort of pain.

I have had that stud in my tongue for over a decade and it never bothered me before. The dentist told me that I really should take it out because, over time, it can alter the shape of your jaw. I didn't believe her and thought that she was just being a dental purist.

I have always loved my tongue piercing and have often told people that it is the best piercing I have ever subjected myself to.

I wish that I could accurately describe the feeling of relief that spread over my face. I can still feel it now. My jaw relaxed, calm spread over my gums, and my tongue heaved a sigh of relief. It was an amazing feeling and, again, still is. I guess it was time. Huh. Who knew?

I'm really old, aren't I?

I gotta get a new tattoo . . .