09-17-2005, 11:36 PM
so i'm here in the slums of philly and i need a haircut
i drove around a while and finally gave up
lo and behold, there is a "salon" across the street from where i live
i walk in and there is a chinese (?) couple cutting hair
along with 3 or four ghetto kids of african-american persuasion
the buzzing is pretty intense, i am wondering if they even own any scissors
but i really need a haircut
then i see something that really scares the shit out of me:
HAIRCUT.......$5.00
PLEASE BUY TICKET BEFORE CUT
holy shit!!!!!!!
this is cheaper than a cut in mexico at a questionable place
but like i say, i really just need a haircut
so i sit down and the lady begins with the trimmer (ugh)
i try to banter with her, but it is clear she speaks not a word of english
the guy (her hubby?) has a big smile on his face as she toils away
she did not have much touch, but she did break out the scissors and gave me a decent cut
especially considering the price
i gave her a two dollar tip (sup haze?)
to be honest, she followed my directions better than most of the cutters who speak english
i am afraid to go back, though, for fear of disease
the palce was not what you would call clean (sup, toe?)
i drove around a while and finally gave up
lo and behold, there is a "salon" across the street from where i live
i walk in and there is a chinese (?) couple cutting hair
along with 3 or four ghetto kids of african-american persuasion
the buzzing is pretty intense, i am wondering if they even own any scissors
but i really need a haircut
then i see something that really scares the shit out of me:
HAIRCUT.......$5.00
PLEASE BUY TICKET BEFORE CUT
holy shit!!!!!!!
this is cheaper than a cut in mexico at a questionable place
but like i say, i really just need a haircut
so i sit down and the lady begins with the trimmer (ugh)
i try to banter with her, but it is clear she speaks not a word of english
the guy (her hubby?) has a big smile on his face as she toils away
she did not have much touch, but she did break out the scissors and gave me a decent cut
especially considering the price
i gave her a two dollar tip (sup haze?)
to be honest, she followed my directions better than most of the cutters who speak english
i am afraid to go back, though, for fear of disease
the palce was not what you would call clean (sup, toe?)
I realise that I have a past to break with--an accumulation of inertia, wrong, foolishness, rot, junk. A great need of clarification, of mindfulness, or rather, of no mind. A need to return to genuine practice, right effort. Need to push on the great doubt. Need for the spirit. Hang on to the clear light.
Thomas Merton