John Gallagher

Funny how I ‘feel’ when I go to Ed’s Barber shop to get my hair cut. My barber, Mazz, is over 70 and loves to talk about his grand kids (today it was more about his daughter that he “put through college over 20 years ago and it costs $26,000 (he tracked it!) and today it costs that much for one year?” He drives to Greensboro each weekend on Sunday…”about a 90-minute ride to have lunch with the family and the wife. Route 220 to Route 68, lots of nice houses on that road”). While in the chair, one patron asks Ed, the owner, “Who do you think will win the debate tonight?” As only Ed can do, he replies “Well, if you are a republican, you probably think your candidate wins and if you are a democrat, you think your candidate wins. It doesn’t really matter.” Ask him about the old piece of natural copper he has on his book shelf and your cut will take an extra 5 minutes.

In the middle chair, Dave cuts a doctor’s hair, who proceeds to give only a $1 tip on an $11 haircut! Are you kidding me?! Dave is the quiet one in the shop. He takes the most ribbing from Ed.

Of course, to ring up the haircut, the barbers have to hit $5, $5, $1 on the register and pull the handle each time. No electronic register, and certainly no debit card machine – CASH ONLY. And, you know where the register is? Out in the middle of the floor, actually closer to the customers waiting to get their hair cut than it is to the owner!!

One of the songs I heard on the radio while I was there today “Delta Dawn, what’s that flower, you have on…” Clearly, an A.M. radio only barber shop!! Dubble Bubble gum and DumDum suckers, of course.

I don’t know, call me crazy, but the simple life and talk in Ed’s barber shop is somewhat calming in these times. One of those trips I look forward to every 4 weeks. I rarely have to say a word…Just Listen & smile!!!