My barber
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2016 9:52 pmI've been going to the same barber for 35 years. His name is Tommy (actually Tomaso) and he is about 95. His mom and dad came to the U.S. from Apulia, the heel of Italy's boot and settled in NYC/NJ area. Shortly after Tommy was born, they moved back to Apulia. When Tommy was 16, he came back to the U.S. to get away from from Il Duce and lived with an uncle. He cut hair for a living. When WWII started, he enlisted in the Army, went to Europe, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Pretty grim.
After the war, he came to Durham (NC) to marry a girl he had met while he trained in nearby Camp Butner, and has been cutting hair in Durham ever since. He still grows his tomatoes and basil and follows Italian soccer. His wife died several years ago. He has lots of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He has a sister and brother who emigrated to Argentina about the same time he came to the U.S. and dozens of nieces and nephews on ranches, vineyards and farms there. He goes to see them every few years.
He has cut back (no pun intended) and now works just Saturdays and Tuesdays. Sometimes he's chatty and sometimes he says almost nothing. One time I made a suggestion on my haircut and he said, "Ey, how long I been cuttin' your hair?" (It wasn't really a question) He mostly uses scissors and is very liberal with the talcum powder.
I was thinking about the strange relationship we have. I don't think he knows my name, but he knows a lot about me. Aside from my wife, he is the only one to have run their fingers through my hair for 35 years (Margie has him by about 10 years). When he stops barbering, I will be lost. How do you find a new barber? It would be like waking up single one day after being married for 45 years.
After the war, he came to Durham (NC) to marry a girl he had met while he trained in nearby Camp Butner, and has been cutting hair in Durham ever since. He still grows his tomatoes and basil and follows Italian soccer. His wife died several years ago. He has lots of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He has a sister and brother who emigrated to Argentina about the same time he came to the U.S. and dozens of nieces and nephews on ranches, vineyards and farms there. He goes to see them every few years.
He has cut back (no pun intended) and now works just Saturdays and Tuesdays. Sometimes he's chatty and sometimes he says almost nothing. One time I made a suggestion on my haircut and he said, "Ey, how long I been cuttin' your hair?" (It wasn't really a question) He mostly uses scissors and is very liberal with the talcum powder.
I was thinking about the strange relationship we have. I don't think he knows my name, but he knows a lot about me. Aside from my wife, he is the only one to have run their fingers through my hair for 35 years (Margie has him by about 10 years). When he stops barbering, I will be lost. How do you find a new barber? It would be like waking up single one day after being married for 45 years.
