I once also had one pierced ear.
In my Senior (12th) year of high school the girlfriend of the lead singer in my band used ice, a needle, 70% isopropyl alcohol and cork to pierce my left ear. It turned out to be more of a project than expected. I seem to have thick cartilage in my lobes. It took all of our lunch period and our football team's QB to finally push it through..
Unfortunately I used a plated earring which rusted and infected the piercing. I didn't get it done again after it closed up.