Although I don’t remember my very first haircut I have heard the story many times throughout my life. I was somewhere around two years old, and I had some pretty hair. It was curly and fell down in ringlets along the back of my neck. My daddy decided I didn’t need those curls anymore.
He loaded me up and took me to the barber shop to make me look like a proper young boy. Daddy was proud as the barber cut off my pretty curls. I think the trouble started when we got back home. My mama loved those curls, and daddy did not consult her before he had them chopped off. I’m not sure he ever lived that one down…….
I think it was quite a while after that before my mama entrusted my daddy with getting my hair cut, but eventually she did. My earliest memories were of Saturday mornings and the barber shop. Daddy would have me in Swainsboro before the sun came up. I had to go to work at the grocery store in Midville at 8:30, so we were at the barber shop before seven.
We sat in the truck and waited for Mr. Frank to get there and unlock the door to let us in. There were no options as I remember, Mr. Frank cut my hair exactly how he wanted to cut it. I remember those days well as it was a treat to go to the barber shop. I remember the smell of that old barber shop and everything in it.
The counter was lined with bottles of hair tonic and the leather strap used to sharpen the straight razor hung from the side of the chair. I remember, fondly, the conversations the other men there would have. There was also an array of hunting magazines in an old basket, so I was in heaven.
The day came, however, when I started getting my hair cut by a lady in Midville. In fact, over the years there were several ladies that cut hair in Midville. Most of the local men would patronize whoever was there at the time. It was convenient for us all to be able to get a haircut without leaving town.
As I got older, I let those pretty curls re-emerge once again on the back of my neck. Did I mention I got some pretty hair? For a number of years, I looked like Grizzly Adams. I had long hair and a long beard. The women at the beauty shop always said it wasn’t fair for a man to have such pretty hair……
I maintained my “rugged look” for a long time and then one day I decided to return the look of my youth. My Bigma was happy when I got all that ole hair cut off…..The ladies at the beauty shop were in mourning, however. Then one day, I looked around and we no longer had a beauty shop.
I decided that I was going to find a barber shop once again. Several of the men from Midville were going to Swainsboro to get their hair cut. I got the phone number to the barber shop from a friend and made an appointment. I remember my first trip to see Tim as he pulled out those clippers and went to work. It was high and tight. I was tickled.
I’ve been going to see Tim for quite some time now and have become good friends with him. We always have a really good conversation, and he always cuts my hair just right. There are usually other customers in there as well and we all talk about life in our area while waiting to get our ears lowered.
I went to see Tim a couple weeks ago and got myself a haircut. I was early and there were a couple of older men in front of me. Tim finished the first man and then went to work on the other gentleman. He finished the man’s haircut, but the man sat there, waiting. Tim rolled down the man’s collar and lathered his neck.
Tim reached down under the counter and pulled out a razor. He shaved the man’s neck the way it used to be done all the time. Tim then reached down under the counter again and pulled out a bottle of hair tonic. He gave the man a good dose of that tonic. I was enamored.
For a few moments in time, I felt like that young boy in Mr. Frank’s barber shop again. I watched Tim do things the old-fashioned way and the smell of that tonic filled my nostrils. As I sat there and reminisced, I fully understood why I love a barber shop and getting my ears lowered.
