The last time I sat down in a real barber shop was in November of 2019. My whole family was with me for support as the barber shaved my head to preempt my impending hair loss. I had made the decision to shave off my hair because every time I showered; my hair was falling out in clumps and it made my stomach churn. Now 10 months in remission after undergoing chemo followed by proton radiation for a duration of 8 grueling months, I finally have an adequate amount of hair to sit down and feel comfortable asking a professional barber for a haircut. Being bald for months, the milestone of sitting down and getting a haircut may seem so simple, but I had never really appreciated it as much as I did that day.
The barber had already known most of my story as she had been cutting my brother’s hair for the past few months. The barber shop being appointment only because of covid, was very quiet with only two other people with my brother and me. As I spoke to the barber about my treatments and JZips, the other gentleman overheard my story. After he had paid for his haircut, left the shop to then return. Unbeknownst to me, he came back into the shop and paid for my haircut, including a tip. In such an exhausting year of the pandemic and political imbalance, this gentleman never said a word – just a silent act of kindness. I wanted to say thank you, whoever you are. You made my first official haircut in remission even more memorable.