Getting a haircut used to be a straight forward experience, especially in Boston. I'd make an appointment the week or day of, pop by, get a cut in silence interspersed with reluctant chit chat, and since I'm already in Chinatown, grab some food on my way out of the neighborhood. Nice and easy. Since moving to B'more, I tried Nancy's hairdresser a couple of times, but never loved the cut and found her too chatty. At least I thought she was too chatty.
Then I hit upon Neal's-- convenient, affordable (in the pre-doc days), and convivial Neal's. Every time I get a hair cut now, I brace myself for the boundless social energy. It's not just my hairdresser-- who I like, and actually remembers me-- but her coworkers, who also remember me (so many names, so many faces, so many stresses). Today, I was offered a peanut butter cookie, asked about my dating life, got the staff's take on the new tea house next door, and heard a earful about the various neighbors of the street. On my way out, I noticed that everyone suddenly had snow cones in their hand. Apparently, the lady complimenting my haircut and chatting with my hairdresser about dinner (she was about to throw some chicken on the grill) owned the art gallery/wellness studio across the street (as you do), but today, they were also selling snow cones on the sidewalk (again, as you do). So I made like I was in Rome and got one as well.
Why was the "ice cream flavor" syrup clear? And the egg custard orange? How can ice be so crunchy? These are questions only people who don't purchase shaved ice from their hairdresser's neighbor's nephew would ask.
