a little haircut

Yesterday, I went to one of those speedy haircut shops. I usually visit these cheaper salons or occasionally just cut my own hair ... I figure I might have to spend big bucks if I want color when I get gray ... so I'm saving while I can :) Anyway, you never know what you're gonna get with these walk-in places ... perhaps an angry young man (that was a few months ago) ... perhaps smelly (he reeked of cigarettes) DUC DUY VU (that was yesterday).

So ... when I arrived at the shop, it was void of customers ... it's just me! Duc Duy Vu greeted me and led me to a chair ... and I immediately realized that we were going to have a bit of trouble communicating with each other. Unfortunately, there wasn't an interpreter nearby. The only other person in sight was a gal in the back room ... also Asian like Duc Duy Vu. (It's possible of course that she has lived here all her life and has excellent english ... but I didn't get to find out.) "So ... how long have you been in Minnesota?" I asked. "Ohhh ... ten years ... or ... two months?????" He questionably responded with a thick accent. Ummm .... which
is it???

As he began combing my hair, I explained that a few nights ago around 1 a.m. I had started snipping at my hair (this is about the usual time when I decide I need a trim) ... and I decided to have someone else finish it since the back is difficult and takes soooo long. I told him to cut it a bit shorter than what I had started with.

"You cut your hair?" He asked in a tone suggesting I'm some kind of nut. "Yes. But I didn't finish," I explained. "You want ... long in back?" He asked. "No, it's long in the back because I didn't finish cutting it," I repeated. When he was done combing my hair, he showed the back to me in a mirror. "How's this?" He asked. He had done no cutting yet! How's what???

"You want long in back?" He asked again. "No. I want you to cut my hair all the way around ... all of my hair ... about this long. Then, add some long layers ... an inch or so from the bottom." I told him. "Don' worry," He reassured me with that thick accent of his ... yet he was looking at my hair like he didn't quite know what to do with it ...

Suddenly, he went at my hair in a flurry with scissors nearly flying. He didn't even section it off ... like every other person has who I've ever paid to cut my hair. It's only hair ... I'm telling myself. A few minutes later I was already driving home ... and I only had to fix a few spots that evening. Could've been worse.