... I was in town this morning collecting the various bits and pieces needed for tonight's meal, when I decided I needed a haircut... a quick phone call later, and I was set...
... see, the woman who cuts my hair only works three days a week...
... Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday... and she is very choosy about her clientele... probably because her license expired twenty or so years ago... but then again, maybe she's so picky simply because she has reached the age and experience level where she no longer has to deal with irritating customers... if she doesn't like you, she'll tell you politely over the phone that she is too busy.. if she does like you, she will invite over to chat with the old hens until your turn in the chair arrives...
... her name is Eva... and she's cut my hair since I was a child...
... so I arrived around noon today, placed myself in a corner and just soaked it up... ancient women in curlers under hooded dryers laughed at jokes they couldn't have heard above the hum... Eva clipping wildly and laughing... still a beautiful woman now in her late fifties... smiling always... glancing over at me with a wink and including me in the discussion of who died last week, who is getting married to whom and whether it'll work out... who got smacked in the back of the head at the church social last weekend...
... the un-maliced gossip of people who have reached the age of ceasing to judge... sure, they still see the entertainment in the crazy lives of the people that surround them, of course... but they are casually indifferent and yet still paying attention... it really is pretty cool to watch them work a story...
... twenty years ago I'll bet they were tigers... ripping to shreds the loose women and philanderers of the neightborhood.... but now they are like hoot owls... watching from high above all of the ruckus... softly hooting to each other and doing little else...
... anyway, I sat there until I received my hair cut... an almost-in-regulation 0 to 1.5 fade.... and it only cost me three bucks... and believe it or not, she is one of the best barbers in town... the other guy does a lesser job and charges me twelve dollars... and hey, I'd rather be hanging with those old ladies.... even if Eva charged me twenty bucks... because, well, some things are just worth paying for...
"but now they are like hoot owls… watching from high above all of the ruckus… softly hooting to each other and doing little else…"
I wouldn't bet on it. *grin*
Bullshitted by Teresa on March 16, 2006 04:33 PMEric,
Sometimes I love coming over and sitting on your front porch. The tea is also sweet enough, and I can wear my slippers.
Just what I needed to read this afternoon....
just damn is right
When Morrigan, Sissy and I were driving to your home in October for that blog meet, we saw a beauty salon called The Curl Up and Dye. I guess it came from the Blues Brothers, but nevertheless, I thought it was a riot.
I love old fashioned small town hair salons. They crack me up.
Bullshitted by Bou on March 16, 2006 07:29 PMWhat an EXCELLENT way to pass some time.
Bullshitted by Tammi on March 16, 2006 10:07 PMMy haircuts cost twenty-two bucks, plus a five dollar tip. But, I figure I'm worth it.
Bullshitted by Jim - PRS on March 17, 2006 09:04 AM