No Hair Left

I had a haircut at the end of June, before we left the States and I have had a total of three haircuts here in Jerusalem. I usually have a haircut every four weeks so I am behind at least one haircut but maybe it's because my hair keeps getting cut too short.

My first haircut was with a barber near the Yeshiva who paid my instructions no heed and cut my hair too short. I don't think he liked me because I arrived at his shop while he was eating lunch. It wasn't as though he had to put his lunch aside - he had me wait for fifteen minutes while he finished his lunch and his cigarette.

My second haircut, closer to our house, was a Russian immigrant barber who only spoke Russian and Hebrew. He understood my Hebrew instructions and I had a great haircut.

Last Wednesday, I went to the same place I went to the second time but I allowed my friend Mo to have his hair cut by the nice Russian barber. Mo's hair turned out great. I had my haircut by the owner, a much older barber. He spoke some English but didn't listen to my instructions at all and basically shaved my head and beard and so I hardly have any hair left at all. I'm nearly bald and my whole head is cold.

Thus, that evening, Jen and I went to the mall to buy her some winter clothing because it's getting downright cool here and while we were at the mall, I bought myself two very large kippot that cover most of my head. People who saw me yesterday at the Yeshiva said good things about my beard but I think they were just being nice. I think I scare small children and furry animals now. Well, in a few weeks it won't be so bad and I can probably wait two or three months before my next haircut.

I'm going back to the Russian barber - he understands my Hebrew and does a great job!