Monday, January 5, 2009

Signs

So while I was back home again in Indiana visiting family, it became apparent that I was badly in need of a haircut. Since I was staying at Mom and Dad's, the best option was the one I used back in the days when I still lived at home-a place called "Mac's" down in bustling downtown Wanamaker. Mac's is one of those places you don't see much of any more-an actual old fashioned barber shop. It's the kind of a place where there is still a red, white, and blue barber pole outside and the inside is decorated with a combination of dust, old vinyl chairs, racing posters, sports memorabilia, and out-of-date copies of Motorsports and Field and Stream. It's the kind of place where they trim the hairs on your neck with hot shaving cream and a straight razor, and the only women present are the two gals (out of five barbers) giving haircuts. One of these ladies is wearing a T-shirt that reads: "What said at the barber shop stays in the barber shop."

I was expecting to get in, get out, and on with my life, minus 11 bucks and some of what's left of my diminishing complement of hair. But while I was there, I made an unexpected discovery. Apparently, my eyebrows need clipping. Now no one has ever mistaken me for Michael Dukakis, so this came as a bit of a shock, but there the barber was, clipping away. Suddenly, what I had mistaken for one of the last oases of masculinity left in Indianapolis was snatched away. I felt that perhaps I need a good manicure and a bit of moisturizer to go with my haircut. As soon as he was done, I paid the man and left. Fortunately, I took the boys to ride around on a Caterpillar skis steer the next day, so my overall testosterone quotient hasn't been too far diminished. At least I don't think so.

If having your barber trim your eyebrows isn't one of the signs of the apocalypse, I sincerely believe it should be...

5 comments:

Horn herd mom said...

Sorry babe, but I think it may be more a sign of old age than the apocalypse.

The Bullhorn said...

Could be, but I don't even have that many gray hairs yet...

Alissa said...

At least they weren't trimming NOSE and EAR hair.

The Rosetto's said...

Joe, maybe you missed it but when Karen posted about her hair cut and eyebrow wax a few months back I commented on you needing yours done. So you should have been prepared!

The Bullhorn said...

Tiffany-Real men don't get their eyebrows "done." They also don't moisturize, get spray tanned, or shave off their body hair. So I honestly could not understand why such a seemingly masculine place would be shaving eyebrows without so much as a question. Oh well. I don't have to go back.