Davey’s First Haircut

Sandy Mama wanted the boys’ first haircuts held off until after their first birthday, but Daddy Dave thought Trey Davey was way too shaggy to wait. Unlike Benji who lost all his birth hair, Davey still had some of his originals and after 11 months, they were getting very long.

We scheduled his inaugural trim a few weeks ago, but then had to postpone due to scheduling conflicts. At that time both our friends Myrna and Roger Smith were booked, so we asked Kim Haire if she would do the honors. Kim’s mother Ellen had worked along side Daddy Dave for five years back in the 80’s and holds a kindred relationship with us.

Traditionally, boys accompanied their fathers to barbers for haircuts. Granddaddy claims he took me for my first trim at 6 months old and the barber said I was the youngest he’d ever done, but Grandma says I was older. I don’t remember that first cut, but I remember going to the barber later and receiving crew cuts. I suppose the decline of the barber shop came in the 1970’s when men began wearing longer hair. I began going to a hair stylist near our family business when I started high school. That’s also about the time I met Myrna, who bought a school newspaper ad from me for her new salon. Her husband Roger started cutting my hair 16 years ago and Myrna began cutting Sandy’s hair 4 years ago.

We thought we’d scheduled a slow time, but the salon was full. Instantly however, the boys became the center of attention. Our chests filled with pride as Davey sat up straight and happily allowed Kim to cut his first hair lock and place it in an envelope. His tendency to look around the room observing everything required mama to occasionally hold his head straight. Not to be forgotten, Benji boy sat in Melissa’s (another stylist) lap and charmed the crowd with jabbering and big smiles.