I remember looking at her earrings longingly...in a non-creepy way. My earlobes were naked.

Another day...another opportunity to say, "What was I thinking?"

Laurel has been counting down the days for the past six weeks.  Today was the day that we could take out her starter earrings (which are nicely conservative) and switch them to something of her choice (which is not conservative).

When she came to me a few months ago, asking for pierced ears, I truly thought about it before automatically saying no.  (I guess Rachel does get that from me.) She had friends who wore earrings and she is quite responsible about keeping clean.  I just remembered being in school wishing that I too could wear earrings but had to wait until 13.  Specifically I remembered the beginning of 7th grade, my friend Sue would double up on dangle earrings like Madonna.  The best time to where earrings was when Madonna burst on the scene--I remember looking at her earrings longingly...in a non-creepy way.  My earlobes were naked.

If Laurel could take care of her lobes and the jewelry, I felt that she would be okay.  She would have to tolerate the brief pinch of the piercings.  If she let them close, then so be it.

This sounds simple enough but it wasn't.  The earrings went in fine.  She took care of them but tonight, we couldn't get them off.  I jiggled, twisted, pulled but didn't yank.  I tried to focus my strength on these little earrings but it doesn't matter what I can curl--these little freakers weren't coming off.

But one came off!  And we rushed into the bathroom to get the new earring in---Laurel seemed to take my "keep earrings in or they will close" seriously.  But now Laurel has one conservative gold ball in one ear and one smiley marshmallow in the other.  I can't get the last one out but I keep trying.  I just keep picturing Sue and her cool earrings.  My manicure is ruined.  The skin under my thumbnails is bleeding and my finger tips are numb.  Laurel finally tells me that she has had enough.  She doesn't care what the kids say..she will go to camp with mismatched ear wear.

So my plans for tomorrow night are to rush home, meet Laurel and head over to Claire's.  They got the earrings in, they are going to help me get them out.  I know I will feel guilty and she will sucker me into another kitschy pair.