SLIDERS

WHEN YOU WORK OUT OF TOWN ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THERE ARE SOME BASIC SERVICES THAT CAN BE PROVIDED ON THE ROAD. OIL CHANGES, CAR INSPECTIONS, DENTISTS AND HAIRCUTS TO NAME A FEW.

I WAS IN NEED OF A HAIRCUT AND HAPPENED UPON SLIDERS SANITARY BARBER SHOP AT THE CORNER OF NORTH AND MAIN STREET JUST A FEW BLOCKS FOR THE COURT HOUSE WHERE I WORK. IT TURNS OUT YOU NEED TO ARRIVE EARLY IF YOU WANT THE FIRST SITTING IN THE CHAIR. ON MY FIRST ATTEMPT I ARRIVED 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE OPENING TIME OF 8AM. TWO CUSTOMERS WERE ALREADY WAITING. MR. NORVEL SLIDER ARRIVED AT 8AM SHARP AND WENT STRAIGHT TO WORK. NORMALLY A HAIRCUT TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES AS MEASURED BY BUCKHANNON'S LOCAL EXPERT BARBER JIM GREGORY. HOPING THAT WAS THE CASE I SETTLED IN TO WAIT ONLY TO FIND OUT THE FIRST CUSTOMER LEFT THE CHAIR AT 8:30. I GAVE UP MY QUEST AND THOUGHT I WOULD GET THERE EVEN EARLY THE NEXT MORNING.

THE NEXT DAY I WAS INDEED THE FIRST CUSTOMER AND ENJOYED A 30 MINUTE HAIRCUT 95% OF WHICH WAS DONE WITH CLIPPERS. MR. SLIDER IT TURNS OUT HAS BEEN CUTTING HAIR AT THAT SAME LOCATION FOR 51 YEARS AND HAD AN ADDITIONAL 6 YEARS EXPERIENCE BEFORE MOVING TO THAT LOCATION. HE TOLD STORIES ABOUT FLOODS THAT PLAGUED NEW MARTINSVILLE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT BORDERS THE OHIO RIVER. HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS BROTHER WHO IS A PURVEYOR OF WILD HERBS AND ROOTS AND THAT THE GOING PRICE FOR YELLOW ROOT IS $800 PER POUND. AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE.

JUST THOUGHT I'D SHARE MY HAIRCUT EXPERIENCE AS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO TRY NEW THINGS IN NEW LOCATIONS. OH BY THE WAY THE HAIR CUT COSTS $5!!!!