A Little Bit of Ecstacy

Wednesday afternoon, I brought the latest issue of the local newspaper into my workplace; it's delivered there during the week. Affixed to the front of it was a sticker that said Great Clips was having their Great Haircut Sale for $6.99. This was perfect timing as I was overdue to get my mane trimmed.

So it was that yesterday afternoon, I headed to their outlet near Wal-Mart and said that I was there to "participate in the Great Haircut Sale". The brunette at the counter smiled and said I could be seen by her right away. We exchanged pleasantries as I told her that I wanted the usual: a number two blade on the sides and back blended in with the top.

As she got started, I noticed an older gentleman getting his hair cut. I was a bit transfixed as I noticed how intently he looked at himself as this was being done. When I'm having a cut, I'll look at anything other than my own face. I'll look at the floor, at the utensils that are on the stylist's stand, at the signage placed there.

I hesitate to say that people who stare at themselves like this man did are vain. They're obviously comfortable with what's in front of them. I suppose some feel that if they don't pay extreme attention to what's being done to their hair, they could miss the moment when the stylist messes it up and they're taken to the point of no return. They're on high alert like the main character from "Hurt Locker", knowing that the next moment might portend their doom.

One big plus of a haircut is being physically touched by an attractive member of the opposite sex. Not that my wife isn't good-looking, but she's been touching me for more than a dozen years. During the haircut, I was thinking, "This feels so good, I almost don't mind if she cuts off more than I want her to" (I was semi-uncomfortable the last time I got a haircut as I knew my wife was watching closely).

A few minutes later, she sent me off and I was in a great mood as I headed to Wal-Mart to pick up some groceries.