Michael

My heart sings when I read another of your stories.

I'm transported; I'm taken to another plane; I'm relaxed; I connect.  All this, and more - simply from reading your words and appreciating the experience you've described.

Thanks for sharing the spirit of Christmas - and as I write, there are less than 9 hours left in 2013 for me - so happy new year and best wishes to all remaining on BP!

Cheers

David


David West
Executive Director

[cid:ics_25yrs-20mm_h010280]


internationalconservationservices


Sydney
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Chatswood
NSW 2067
Australia


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From: The listserv where the buildings do the talking [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of michael
Sent: Sunday, 29 December 2013 4:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [BP] christmas eve at the black barber shop




Not long /read at leisure

from small town /deep woods mississippi







The spirit of Christmas

usually hits me when Im least aware

so it was on the afternoon of Christmas eve when I was in a little town

about an hour away ; My business was done and I had a little time

so I went to see Tyrone ; or the way his friends perfer to call him.

...... TY rone



I met Ty rone at church

his church ;

He was sexton and I was the stone mason

restoring his church .

Some days if the chores were done ;

  Ty rone and I would just sit

and meditate in the Peace of the sanctuary.

Historic black churches have such a deep soul connection to mother africa

its really not all that hard to tap into it ....

.and go nto that beautiful inner silence

of root beginings



we bonded on these occasions

 and  my take on it is past lifes

you know  the Sarcen and Scottish pirate ;

or something like that

we talk and laugh alot and enjoy each others company



In the course of our sitting

 I found out that Ty rone ran a barber shop

across the tracks in what some might call the hood .

a low cluster of cinder block buildings of business

painted white and decorated in Christmas blinking lights all year long .



"Can I get a shave ?" i asked him after meditation one friday

..."sure Ill shave you "



Getting a barber to professionally shave you with a straight razor

 in this day and age is a luxury ,....no one will do it anymore



To me Its one of the most relaxing things that  a man can have ;

( and I keep a fu man chu beard  so the barber must  be good

and Ty rone  is  good



Christmas eve

so I took a chance to see if I could catch him in





Ty rone has this classic  old time shop ;

 a big solitary  ornate porcelain pump chair

from the turn of the century

 with a cuspidor at its side ;



He pumps you up in front  of a

a large ornate oval mirror of equal vintage

 in an gleaming ivory white frame.



Looking into the mirror  you can see behind him   a glass menagerie

 of edu  de cologne

avec pomades  and various creams and  stink waters

 I hand never heard of



The outside glass that spells "Ty rone " is in cursive

was all steamed up

so I couldn't"t see who all was in there .



The door opens with a sleigh bell that jingles

and upon its sound

 i was greeted by a gaggle of little girls and boys

 with smiles a mile wide

getting cookies from a black Santa all dressed in red

and having a time of it



Childrens Christmas party

and My heart melted when I saw their delight .

 Tyrone greeted me with a great big Christmas hug

which put the men playing pool in the back room in ease

as it did I and

a great big man with a bull neck Ty rone  was working on



I understand ......Ty rone gets very few white visitors ;

and well people get nervous



"I know you " the big man said ......and my mind raced for answers

as he was covered by the white barbers apron

 fumbling with something underneath



Ty rone ran a sports parlor in the back that took bets on the NFL

maybe this was the pit boss ...or the banker .

I had no  I O U s...besides I  no longer wagered





His memory caught up with  him

"You restored my church ""...said the big man and smiled a great big smile

that put me at ease with what ever he was shuffling  with



Ty rone had just finished him up and to my surprize

when he  stood up was a 6'6" uniformed police officer

that looked like a running back for the giants .

He took a second to put his glock away ;

 then spoke to me

Great job and good  to see you ...Merry Christmas "



'merry Chritmas to you " I enjoined  ; the spirit was starting to enter

 only i just  didn't know it yet



I took my place in the chair

 and went under the hot towel

while Ty rone talked Tony Ramos chances in the  NFl and with Dallas .

There is always a banter of sports here ; young and old talking it up

this was hot topic and affecting the morning line

By the time Ty rone started to put the hot shaving creme on me he was talking

Alabama and Mississippi state;sugar bowl et all

when just then  two more  toddlers came in overdressed in  snowsuits

 followed by three black women  carolers from the neighborhood

singing jingle bells racapella



Ok ....Its standing room only in here  now folks

 Santa is working  the crowd  with his cokies

as  Ty rone expertly sculpts and glides

 his mother of pearl straight razor across my skin and neck ;

He labors  in masterful Zen like  strokes as he dispatches the coarse hair

from around  jaw



Im going into the bliss of the experience

; Ty rone is  talking sports and the merriment

 of the childrens  squeals is heart warming and melting

In the back ground there is   the slap of pool balls;

 and the song of   jingle bells ;

 Over  the delightful  din  I  turn to Ty rone

and softly  announce from my dream

  " I think its Here

what's that mr.Mike ?".....says ty rone wiping the razor

 on the face towel next to my head

"Christmas"  Ty rone ...I think its finally  here ..

"Sure is Mr Mike "........ sure is   "

,,, ......................Bon noel from Mississippi/////Michael





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