I had a feeling you would post to this Aaron.

For me it was an instant change on the outside. My clothing got more normal. My red velvet coat only makes it out of the closet when Im feeling VERY frisky and my red Docs get even less play. I got rid of the patent leather ones....what a shame. Those will work with normal. The hair went to a normal more SOLID tone and...well I graduated from college.

Its not so much that I wanted to fit in with the rest of the world - I was just trying things to make me happy. Those things made me happy then - and it was the only way I got real attention - THEN people would talk to me and find out who I really was. It made me alot of friends and I met alot of very cool people. I wouldnt say I fit into any MOLD - I just did my thing.

I was always the odd one out. 12 second Camaro piercings and velvet didnt go so well together. I think my cars helped me out though. People would start talking to me about my car instead of my labret or my shoes. Then they would get to know ME and I didnt have to draw their attention with the way I looked. I had another outlet and then things just changed. I realized that MOST people DID look at me in a negative way. I didnt want people to see that.

I know you shouldnt judge a person for how they look or what they wear - but for me it didnt matter. I WAS NOT MY CLOTHES - AND I WAS NOT MY PIERCINGS. SO getting rid of them didnt really matter...I have no regrets - Im happy with the way I turned out just as I was happy with how I looked and felt then.