I call it the "Hipster" barber shop. It's run by millenniums and has all the trappings of their influence. Most of the men who cut hair there have at least one tattoo, facial hair, and work schedules that give them ample time off. The women who work there fit the age demographic, have tattoos, and are as friendly as the men. You can have a beer, a shot of whiskey, or even a non-alcoholic beverage while you wait. In place of the strictly male barber shop reading material, you might find coffee table books, or copies of Rolling Stone, or perhaps the local community newspaper. Most people waiting just sit with their phones in front of their faces. The background music is often hard rock, or blues, or perhaps a local radio DJ.
Within this establishment, I go to the same barber, a 29-year old man called Dash. My wife goes to a 30 something woman called Cash. Cash and Dash, is that Hipster enough for you?
Dash and I have good conversations during the 45 minutes I spend in the chair. He's curious and well-informed and he likes the fact that I'd a good 45 years older. He likes the outdoors, and popular culture, and being the son of two therapists, he has a good background in interpersonal relationships. We usually talk about politics and fly fishing, and share a personal story or two. Dash often says, "No Doubt," in response to something I say.
One time, Dash casually asked, "What's it like to be old?" At first I was floored, but then I realized it's a legitimate question that I could definitely answer.
I told him that sometimes I feel my age, but often a lot younger, and then on occasion a bit older. I quoted a wise person who once said that we are, "every age we've ever been." When he asked for clarification, I mentioned that sometimes, especially when I go fishing, I feel 12 years old again, and then when pondering a difficult decision, I draw on the years of experience I've accrued.
"No Doubt."
Recently Dash said that he and his girlfriend were going to get married. I think her biological clock is calling and he's just about 30 so he's taking this step with careful thought. I've noticed that he always refers to his girlfriend as his "lady." A term I will never use. The Feminist wave of the early 1970s taught me that. I got that the use of the word was demeaning, that it implied a weak, if not dainty perception. Women were women, not ladies. I once heard an outspoken Feminist call out an unconscious man for using the term. It made sense to me. I stopped using it, but I've noticed, in the last decade or so, it's slowly coming back. Not in my house.
Going to the barber shop has become something I don't mind doing now. That wasn't always the case. The evolution of a "hipster" barber shop certainly helps. Being an old man doesn't hurt either. No doubt.
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