Not too long ago, I found myself sitting in a chair in the waiting area of a barbershop while my friend got a shave and a haircut.
This is a very traditional barbershop. It is located in an old brick house and features a poster celebrating the town’s participation in the war effort of World War II. It doesn’t have a barber pole, but everything else tells you this place has been there a long time.
The few magazines in the waiting area feature hunting dogs and guns. Occasionally, the small-screen, wall-mounted TV will have a football or basketball game playing. The display cases feature items that apparently haven’t been moved since the cases were installed.
This is a cash-only business, but there is an in-house ATM machine that is broken more than in working order.
Most of the clients know the barber and the talk is of trucks, hunting dogs, sports and barbeque.
We were greeted at the door by the owner’s dogs, two very large, very friendly, black labrador retrievers – one sitting in one of the waiting area chairs and the other standing at the door, tail wagging, greeting the customers.
I sat down in the middle seat of three chairs in a second waiting area. After a while, another customer came in, talked to the barber and sat down next to me. We both patted the dogs who had wandered over to us, commenting on how friendly the dogs were. The guy told me a bit about his dogs and the long trip he had just taken in his truck. A second, younger guy came in and sat in the third chair. He talked about his dogs.
I sat for awhile, then to fill the silence, I announced, “I have a cat.”
I was aware that I was seated in the middle of Dog Country. I was sure my statement would kill any chance for further conversation, so I prepared for a long, painful silence.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The first guy told me about how he decided on his cat’s name based on how clever and funny the cat was. He told me about his neighbor’s cats. The second guy, who for all outward appearances was a Dog Guy, told me in great detail how he found his two cats. He told me they didn’t go outside because he valued them so much he didn’t want them to get hurt.
He was still showing me his cat pictures on his phone when I stood up to join my friend at the door.
So much for judging by appearances.
Peace
