My Dad Turned 89!

I talked with my dad this morning. He turned 89 this summer and while he’s in good health, I feel it’s important for us to talk a bit every day. Since he’s in Spokane, and since I live in the Tacoma area of western Washington I suppose it’s even more important for me to make sure he knows I’m available. Spokane is the on the east side of the state, about 300 miles from our front door.

When we talk, we usually talk about the weather and what’s for dinner. Today he said it was cloudy. Yesterday he told me he was going for a haircut. When I asked him about his haircut he said, “I keep losing barbers.”

I asked, “So how many have you lost?” “Well, there was the guy on Monroe.” He moved to a hotel downtown and it’s just too far for me to go all the way downtown. Then there was a guy up here. I think he retired. And then there was another guy who retired. And yesterday, when I pulled up in front of the barber shop, there was a sign in the window that said “Closed!” Actually I was both shocked and disappointed. Then a familiar face appeared in the window and motioned for me to come in. He told me he was going to sell his building. But he did cut my hair.

Dad added, “I don’t know how old he was, but he’s probably going to retire.”

I asked, “Maybe you need to choose a younger barber?” Dad replied, “They were all real good barbers. It’s so hard to find a good barber.”

Then we said goodbye and we each said, “I love you, have a great day.”