Curiosity Show theme song, just because…

I am very fortunate, I have always rather fancied my vagina.  I think I must have been about 6 or 7 years old when I discovered how neat it was…albeit under unfortunate circumstances.

I liked to watch a program called the Curiosity Show.  Like Blue Peter, you can make cool stuff and experiments at home.  Things like hot ice or amazing colourful origami puzzles.  That afternoon I decided to make some Curiosity Show Stilts out of a pair of old Milo tins (like Nesquik).  With a hammer, screw and some string, I banged together my stilts.  I was now armed with two Milo cans on either foot, holding onto string reins.  Very proud with my handy work, I clomped my way from the kitchen down the long Victorian hall  to the lounge.  Gaining confidence in every step.

We had a gas heater, in our lounge room.  The kind you see in churches, glowing orange squares covered with a silver grid.  The family coffee table took pride of place just off-centre and diagonally in front of the heater.  After switching the television back on, I made my way between the table and the heater to get warm.  Not used to being another 8 inches tall, my left knee clipped the table corner’s edge, which was red hot as it was too close to the heater.  Startled and stung by the hot edge, I began to fall the opposite way toward the heater.  Knowing that would be another whole level of pain, I collapsed my knees together while my legs and ankles splayed out either side of me.  Aside from falling awkwardly, my young womanhood landed squarely on one of the askew tins…

I remember rolling off and holding my vagina.  I knew I had hurt myself but it seemed not too badly.  I couldn’t see blood on my yellow Holly Hobbie undies and it felt like it would be bruised more than anything.  It wasn’t until I went to the toilet and it was painful to wee that I decided to take a look.  Using my Grandma’s faded pink vanity mirror I crouched down with my knees up near my ears.  At first I couldn’t really see where I had hurt myself but I could feel where it was sore.  There was a thin graze like tear the length of my little finger following the line between the labium majora and minora.

Aside from discovering my wound, I also noticed that it was a pretty shape, with different hues of pink.  It kind of reminded me of a Star Trek ship with smooth aerodynamic lines.  Now I am not really sure what I was expecting but I was nicely surprised.  I continued to explore and could feel the different textures of skin and the way it could tingle in my stomach to the touch.  I was in wonder.  As I knew that it served purposes I could not imagine, given its size.

I suppose I became more aware of that part of me from there on.  It gave me pain when having to wee, (as a kid you tend to want to wee a lot).  So for a few sore days thereafter my vagina became inextricably linked to being a part of me.  No longer a part of me to be idly disregarded, as I had done before.  Indeed previously most toilet breaks felt more like an inconvenience on my play time, my vagina the culprit.  So I kept an eye on it.  Watching the bruising go from purple to black then into a greenish yellow before eventually fading away.  Having to be gentle and tender with it in the following days I vowed I would take care of it.

I haven’t forgotten the kinship I formed with my vagina so many years ago.  For a long time I have harboured a desire to some how immortalise my vagina.  When I watched a documentary of Jamie McCartney’s Design A Vagina sculpture work, I wanted to be a part of it immediately.  For me this was a way of immortalising and viewing my vagina without the starkness of photography.  Getting up close and personal with a part of me, that I am unable to see any other way than upside down.  I also liked the fact that it was a part of something special, the Wall of Vagina piece, (formerly known as Design A Vagina).  It would be one beautiful flower among many (280 to be exact).  This time perhaps to the wonderment of others…

Should you like to know more about Jamie’s work you can visit his site here or view a video of some of his subjects’ experiences below.  I couldn’t think of a nicer bloke to do the honours.

Many thanks for reading… Olivia x

P.S. Has anyone discovered things about their body under unusual circumstances? I hope so…  It would be cool to share them with us.  Feel free to use an alias if you would prefer to remain anonymous ;-)

If you like, leave a rating, comment, share or sign up to the RSS feed, it’s easy.  Plus a) it makes me realise it’s not a vast void out there. b) You must be special, you’ve discovered and taken the time to read this.  It stands to reason your contributions will stir imaginations and cool conversation!! c) There is no c… though there are a couple of words starting with c I like…