The age of barber shops

[Big Jay]

I'll be the first to admit...mom raised me. Dad was always busy working to support everything we had. Well anyway, mom being the one tending to us...we always got our haircuts at "salons". The haircut was fine. No complaints. We'd go in, listen to the old ladies talk about sales on this and that, "Oh that poor so and so lost her husband". You know, the usual. I always thought to myself: Wow...these women always have something wrong with them. Something is always not going their way. Yet none of it is their fault...hmmm.

Then I guess 2-3 years ago, by chance, I stumbled into a quaint little barber shop called "Frank's". To be 100% honest, I wasn't too hot on the idea. I didn't have much hair to begin with and what was left I definitely was quite particular with. Had a hot date, looked like a bum, needed to be done.

Well to this day I still go there. Same "Frank" cuts my hair. Gives me a nice straight shave. We talk about fishing, hunting, cigars, women, watches, etc. Simple haircut lasts about 45 min. Everything that is man is addressed. There isn't a time I've walked into that place where I didn't think to myself "Wow...what if I had gone here all along?"

Today I walked in as an older man was getting his haircut. Man was grey with a beard. I looked and saw a Rolex Submariner on his wrist. Thought to myself "Guy has good taste" They talked about the trout bite up in reservoir. Then across the news came talk of the mosque near grown zero.

Frank chimes in "Damn shame"

The older man says "Never was like this when I was your age"
<looking at me>

I replied "Sir...even I'm ashamed at what my generation has become"

Frank adds "I remember how they were cheering down in Liberty state park after 9/11"

I included it was like that in Paterson, NJ as well.

The old man says "Well it was different in my day." Looks at me and asks "Young man, if you didn't adhere to the rules set forth by your father...what happened? Just out of curiosity?"

I said: "Well quite simple sir...he told me: "You have two choices: Deal with it or get the f**k out"

They both smiled and Frank says to the old man "There's still hope Bill"

I looked at both of them and said "God willing fellas...yes, there is"

My boys (should I have them) will go to the barber. Not a salon. More men should go back to the barber. For whatever its worth.

Take the story how you will. I liked it.

[teddyp]

I'll be the first to admit...mom raised me. Dad was always busy working to support everything we had. Well anyway, mom being the one tending to us...we always got our haircuts at "salons". The haircut was fine. No complaints. We'd go in, listen to the old ladies talk about sales on this and that, "Oh that poor so and so lost her husband". You know, the usual. I always thought to myself: Wow...these women always have something wrong with them. Something is always not going their way. Yet none of it is their fault...hmmm.

Then I guess 2-3 years ago, by chance, I stumbled into a quaint little barber shop called "Frank's". To be 100% honest, I wasn't too hot on the idea. I didn't have much hair to begin with and what was left I definitely was quite particular with. Had a hot date, looked like a bum, needed to be done.

Well to this day I still go there. Same "Frank" cuts my hair. Gives me a nice straight shave. We talk about fishing, hunting, cigars, women, watches, etc. Simple haircut lasts about 45 min. Everything that is man is addressed. There isn't a time I've walked into that place where I didn't think to myself "Wow...what if I had gone here all along?"

Today I walked in as an older man was getting his haircut. Man was grey with a beard. I looked and saw a Rolex Submariner on his wrist. Thought to myself "Guy has good taste" They talked about the trout bite up in reservoir. Then across the news came talk of the mosque near grown zero.

Frank chimes in "Damn shame"

The older man says "Never was like this when I was your age"
<looking at me>

I replied "Sir...even I'm ashamed at what my generation has become"

Frank adds "I remember how they were cheering down in Liberty state park after 9/11"

I included it was like that in Paterson, NJ as well.

The old man says "Well it was different in my day." Looks at me and asks "Young man, if you didn't adhere to the rules set forth by your father...what happened? Just out of curiosity?"

I said: "Well quite simple sir...he told me: "You have two choices: Deal with it or get the f**k out"

They both smiled and Frank says to the old man "There's still hope Bill"

I looked at both of them and said "God willing fellas...yes, there is"

My boys (should I have them) will go to the barber. Not a salon. More men should go back to the barber. For whatever its worth.

Take the story how you will. I liked it.

Thats good shit right there. I've got a son and he does go to a Barber. I believe in the way it was. I still read the newspaper, not on an Iphone or the internet but the paper one. I put my flag out every morning and take it in every night. My family eats dinner together and we say a pray before we do so. Its sad to see what a shit hole this country has become. I guess some will tell me to love it or leave it.

[Big Jay]

Thats good shit right there. I've got a son and he does go to a Barber. I believe in the way it was. I still read the newspaper, not on an Iphone or the internet but the paper one. I put my flag out every morning and take it in every night. My family eats dinner together and we say a pray before we do so. Its sad to see what a shit hole this country has become. I guess some will tell me to love it or leave it.

Pretty much the same here man. Minus the newspaper. Most news ends up coming across my desk from Yahoo because I have to watch equities and the market all day long.

Mom's side of the family is from the deep south. We're talking elbows off the table when you eat, firm handshake, hold the door for the ladies, men keep their promises, polite, everyone is Mr. and Mrs. till you have kids of your own, etc.

We walk through a world now that's changed so much. People walk away from their problems vs. facing them head on.

Barber shop is a great place.

[mvsusaf]

I am old enough to remember when my mother would take me to the barber shop and stand outside while I had my haircut! Back in Bayonne no woman would be caught dead in a barber shop. After all they actually had magazines like Ring and The Police Gazette to peruse while awaiting your turn.

I used to say to my mother why don't you let daddy take me on Saturday? The answer was "that's for working men who can't get there during the week". Really I believe it was the 50 cents difference for a boy's haircut during the week versus Saturday.

Does anybody else remember the hot towel machine, shaving brushes and the liberal splash of Bay Rum (That really stung) after the barber finished with the straight razor?

[2dogs1949]

I too went to a barber shop. It was in the basement of a corner house of row homes. Len was his name. Went with my Dad a few times then started going on my own. Hot towels and the mechine that spit out hot lather. Len worked alone for as long as I went there. Len was from some foreign land but a great guy and always checking to make sure my head was on straight.
I think he reported back to my Father. Things were very different then. More respectful and honest. You could leave your bike outside without a lock and never worry about it. Went back to Len after I got out of the service. Still the same. SHort time later he passed away. My Dad had been going to him for 30 years. Dad ended up going to the opposite end of that block to Alex's. He hated it but thats where he went.
Thanks Jay for the trip back to a better time.

[seapower]

It's not too late. All we have to do is become parent's again, instead of trying to be their freind's. Freindship will come later, if your a parent today. Respect is to be earned, it can't be bought with "stuff" they really don't need in the first place. A marrage where mom and dad stay together, a roof over their head's, clothe's on their back's, help with homework and a good "homecooked" meal is what is needed. The "extra's" (only if you can afford it) can come later, when they can actually appreciate it. What I am talking about is family. If you're gonna have kid's be a Father and a Mother!!! It's really pretty simple. That's one thing I really do like about the place I call home, we still have quite abit of that here. Not trashing anywhere else. Frank

[Hoover]

Amen Seapower.....like someone else said"there is hope"...I know this is my first reply but you nailed it!

[clt_capt]

The worst haircut of my life came from a Barber - and I had to tip him too... See the barbershop was on the Main drag of my college - right in from of the girl's dorm... A nice spring day had me nearly scalped - But the view was mighty fine

And then there was the time the barber left mid haircut - he was a volunteer firefighter...

That barbershop was always an adventure - but never had anything more fru-fru than styptic pencil put on...

[marine4003]

My guy has the striped pole out front..whenever I'm out of town and need a haircut..i look for the pole..never fails..older guy..conservative..lots to say.good advice.Tony is my barbers name.originally from New Rochelle NY,his father was a barber..and his grandfather,one time he told me he cut Sinatra's hair, got a $100 tip..when the old time barber goes..its the end of civilization as we know it..

[Five4Fighting]

My dad used to take me to the barber in the small town I grew up in. Barber's name was Harry. We called him Harry The Hacker. I was surprised that I kept my ears everytime I left there. Harry would watch Tom and Jerry cartoon's while cuting my hair. He would laugh his a$$ off. They were great times! Thanks for the trip back memory lane!

Now, my sister-in-law cuts my hair at her house. Just not the same...