There is little in my home -town
that would have been a good example
of Rockwell's Middle America.
A coal-mining town, a cattle ranching town
a farming town,
lacking in the simple grace
and the touch
of universality that Rockwell sought
for the praise of all of us.
But there was one Saturday Evening Post cover
that he missed
because he didn't get a haircut in
Greg Browning's Columbian Barber Shop.
There was a spot of Americana
has etched my memory sharp and clear.
Haircuts were a quarter.
My father's hair was black and straight as wire.
The clippings from his hair on the floor
covered the linoleum completely.
If my youthful blond hair were added
it became a salt and pepper pattern.
Six-days -a week jobs meant that Saturday night
the shop had to stay open until 10Pm
if men were going to get a haircut.
There was always a crowd of miners on that night.
They waited patiently for one of the four chairs
to be free.
Greg was a gentleman and the shop was never
the rowdy male bonding barber shops common
in those near frontier times.
I never heard a slightly profane word,
which meant careful self -control for
many of the customers.
They talked of the weather, which was
always too dry, too cold, too windy or
too boring.
And they talked of Whizzer White
and the University of Colorado football team.
Joe Louis lost his color in that shop
and was the hero of the moment.
Often Babe Ruth had a good day at bat
and the Yankees were on their way
to another pennant.
The mines were working again
and the depression seemed to be less severe
or everyone was getting used to it.
Roosevelt seemed to be doing a good job.
And comments about the WPA were not too caustic
because everyone there had friends who worked there.
Brandy Doveton with his merchant
and well to do cowhand looks
always seemed to have some ranching news.
Brandy's well-polished boots
was great advertisement
for his merchandise.
As I sat there waiting
I was sure that a gabardine cowboy suit
and a pair of Tony Llamas boots was
a sign of the good life.
When Harry Zook came in so tall and gentle
it was a rare sight to see
Greg standing on a box to be able
to cut Harry's hair.
What a scene for Rockwell if he
had dropped by for a haircut.
Had he painted the scene today
I would be remembered
as the tow headed kid
caught looking in awe at the men
in Greg's barber shop.