I like my trips to the barbershop to be quiet and meditative. I find all the buzzing and clipping and spraying and combing very soporific. Anyhow, since I’ve to take off my glasses and can’t see anything clearly, about the only option is to close my eyes and try to doze off a bit.

Not everyone takes this attitude, as evidenced by my visit to the barbershop today. Sometimes the barber thinks he’s got lots of interesting things to say, but one reason I go to Father & Son Barber Shop (1122 W. Thorndale Ave.) is because the barbers there stick to barbering. Occasionally they’ve tried to strike up a conversation, but a few monosyllabic responses from yours truly gives them the idea.

The customers, on the other hand, can be a different story. One guy in there today (a salesman, of course) subjects everyone in the entire place to his know-it-all personality. He came off like some combination political pundit, media critic, sportswriter and stand-up comedian. What does he think blogs are for?

I should get a discount for not making my barber have to pretend I’m funny or interesting. That’s not his job.