My barber

[Bull City]

I'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.

[Ish]

I go to my hairdresser (James has been cutting my hair for 20+ years as well as my wife's) every couple of months. I could do it with that tool. Actually, I could probably do my hair with a Bic lighter.

[Orestes Munn]

My Norelco is named Sigfrido in honor of the 80 yo who cut and gooped my hair and scraped my boyish neck in the 60s.

[Bull City]

I go to my hairdresser (James has been cutting my hair for 20+ years as well as my wife's) every couple of months. I could do it with that tool. Actually, I could probably do my hair with a Bic lighter.

Ish, from your latest photo, you could use that on your facial hair too!

[kimbottles]

My Norelco is named Sigfrido in honor of the 80 yo who cut and gooped my hair and scraped my boyish neck in the 60s.

Eric has hair???

Who knew?

[Slick470]

I went to an old barber throughout college, must have been in his late 70s early 80s then. Was always watching the golden girls on tv and making dirty jokes. When I moved to the DC area I couldn't find anyone similar and I'm not a fan of the chains or salons... so a buddy of mine cut my hair for a couple years. He moved out of the area and I ended up teaching myself. So, been cutting my own hair for the past 11 years or so. Not that hard really, I do most of it with clippers,and I must do an ok enough job as nobody wonders who screwed up my haircut. Either that or they are just nice enough not to say anything...

[LarryHoward]

My Norelco is named Sigfrido in honor of the 80 yo who cut and gooped my hair and scraped my boyish neck in the 60s.

Eric has hair???

Who knew?

I will confirm that he was sprouting some fuzz after our GS crossing. As I recall, it disappeared about the time he stopped smelling after clearing customs and getting a shower. (Or was that my boat shoes smelling?)

[Orestes Munn]

I tried to keep it pretty smooth and shiny the whole race, shaving between bouts of furious dental hygiene.

[kdh]

One word on barbers. Female. Only way to go. Same with doctors, dentists, personal trainers, massage therapists, etc.

You have a choice. Dude or not. It's an easy one to make.

[Olaf Hart]

You have found us out Keith, time to quit.

[JoeP]

One word on barbers. Female. Only way to go. Same with doctors, dentists, personal trainers, massage therapists, etc.

You have a choice. Dude or not. It's an easy one to make.

I used to go to a barber shop run by two women. It was great. Superior cuts and you got a scalp massage at the end. Unfortunately they went out of business. I now have a guy barber who does a good job but no massages.

[Bull City]

Famous Barber

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