SEPERATE WORLDS

Consider all the places sort of sacred to one’s traditional manhood. Today one of those sacred places was not exactly compromised but let’s just say voluntarily invaded by my dear fiancé. Admittedly I OFFERED. Why, well one thing lead to another. HER barbershop was closed (Monday), we both needed a haircut, and well…it just made sense.

We got there half past the hour of four. The shop closed at five. I reminded her that this is the barbershop I have ALWAYS gone to. To be clear the ONLY place that has EVER cut my hair. Ok, so some say sheltered life….I can understand. But it is about six-eight weeks between haircuts so generally I am always in town to get one.

MY BARBERSHOP
About four years ago the superb, dedicated, and amazingly good barber sold his place to a trendy young lad in his late 20’s. The old Greek guy (Louie) still cuts but today only one barber was present. This guy, whose name I do not know, happened to be the one I dislike the most. I got my hair cut with the understanding that it all grows back….at least at this point in life!

My fiancé whispers to me after some time of waiting that she has decided not to get her haircut. I can’t say I blame her. I really didn’t want to either.

I read the Times News Paper, Men’s Health, said ten words to my barber, and got the deed done while my fiancé looked on with SOOOOO many thoughts in her mind.

The floor of the shop is solid oak from the bed of a old semi, virtually every game animal in the Midwest can be found somewhere on a wall and magazine editions from Maxum– National Geographic–Dr. Seuss can be read while you sit calmly on a 12 seat church pew.

Yea, it is not the barbershop I spend my first 30 years in. The spinning barber thing is no longer outside, the coca-cola pop dispenser from the 50’s is gone, the old red sitting chairs, the tile floor, and the gentle and sincere greeting from my steadfast Greek barber is gone.

Tomorrow I will go to my fiancé’s barbershop. She will get her hair cut while I sit, wait, and experience her old Greek barbershop at work.

Today, my fiancé helps me reconnect with my childhood in a most unexpected way. I cannot wait for tomorrow.
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