John the Barber        

        There were four people lined up outside Cranford Hair Cutters this morning waiting for John the Barber to show up.  He normally begins his day at 10 a.m. though the line starts forming 15 or 20 minutes before.  He works a full day, breaking for lunch sometime around 2 p.m. puts up the closed sign at 5 p.m. and leaves his shop around 6 p.m. It’s a rare day that I walk by and see John stretched out in his chair reading the newspaper.

        I try to time my haircuts.  When I get to where its almost time, I begin to look to see how many people are already waiting.  This can go on for a week.   Every so often I get lucky, but usually I give up, grab something to read, and sit and wait for three sets of ears to be lowered before it’s my turn.   

        When I was younger, much younger, I worked in Manhattan and got my haircuts at The Rape of the Lock. My tousled mane required more than a garden-variety haircut and wasn’t that a cool name for a barbershop?  I was able to make an appointment.  There was fabulous decor, trendy music, an array of current magazines and some raucous humor. Naturally, I paid more than the haircut was worth.

        At Cranford Hair Cutters the décor is circa 1970, the music is trendy only if you’re into Light FM, you can forget about raucous humor and I’ve long since learned to bring my own reading material. Sometimes I read as I wait, but more often than not I end up talking to others who are waiting.  When my wait ends I get a wonderful haircut. John takes his time, never hurries and clearly appreciates his craft. When it’s your turn, you can count on being in the chair for twenty minutes. 

        John has a very broad customer base, and has worked with some of his same clients for the better part of forty years.  He has come to know these people, know their lives and he catches up with them as he does his work.  As I’ve waited my turn, I’ve heard John  talk about his and his client’s children, discuss the hot topic of the day and refer business to roofers, carpenters and electricians. John chatters throughout the day and there is a lot of community commerce in a barbershop.

         John used to charge $12 for a haircut, but several months ago he raised his price to $13.  More than 50 years ago when my dad took me to the barbershop he said that it wasn’t necessary to tip the barber in the first chair because he was the owner. But you had to tip any of the other barbers. Those rules no longer hold and most of John’s patrons are pleased with his work and pay him more than $13.  Fred, another barber, works a couple days a week, and John earns a proprietor’s share of that income.  John’s is an honorable profession and he seems to enjoy his work and his life.  He’s his own boss and an integral part of our community. 

         Some questions. When is the last time you heard or read an advertisement for a barber school?  Do you know any barbers who have yet to celebrate their 30th birthday? Do you know any barbers who aren’t of Italian descent?   I’m talking about barbers who work in a shop with a barber pole, cut hair with scissors, not unisex beauty parlors or high speed cutting salons.  My answers to those three questions are, “I can’t remember, nope and nope.”     

.        Not so long ago there were four barbershops in Cranford. Now there are only three.  I wonder how our community will be affected as fewer and fewer skilled barbers ply their trade.