A Day At The Barbershop

I came across this documentary titled “Pickin’ and Trimmin’” about a barbershop in North Carolina that struggles to stay afloat amidst rising costs and the threat of corporate hair-cutters like SuperCuts. These small town barbershops are a part of American culture, and it’s a shame when one is forced to close its doors.

I’ve been going to a barbershop since I was two years old, and I can’t imagine getting my hair cut at a place where I couldn’t see the war medals of the man cutting my hair on the wall. I’ve had my hair cut by men whose war medals were awarded before my parents were born. Does Sven down at SuperCuts share stories of heroism while trying to perfect the fade on the back of your head? Even my interest in sports was born at the barbershop. A Saturday morning debate on the latest Yankee free agent signing is more spirited that anything I’ve ever seen on “Around The Horn” or “Pardon The Interruption”.

The lessons I’ve learned while at the barbershop are an important part of who I am. I pity any man who grew up without that experience. I urge all fathers out there to heed this message: take your sons to a barbershop.