Made From Silver Dollars

Day 104 / 2022 Photo Project365

In January 2020, when COVID was still a distant problem somewhere in Asia, I rode a #6 subway train from midtown to Astor Place for my last haircut ever at Astor Place Barber Stylists. After 30+ years of getting my head buzzed by the same barber “Scotty” at this iconic, multi-level, classic NYC barbershop — he looked like Albert Einstein with less hair, lived in the the Bronx, and kept a thick accent ever since his childhood arrival from Italy — I never imagined it would be the last time I’d see him. Had I known, maybe we’d have gone deeper than our usual cursory chatting about family, work, weather, and the perfect single espresso. Sadly, Astor Place Barber Stylists closed its doors permanently in 2020, another victim of the pandemic. I guess Scotty finally put down his scissors and retired…

When I arrived that day, hung my work knapsack on the usual hook, and prepared to take my seat in the chair, I noticed Scotty was talking to an interesting-looking older man. Without listening too closely, I could discern that he was an old customer (like me) and a retired professional photographer. He had a cool-creative-East-Village vibe — black boots, black jeans, black leather jacket, white shirt and a scarf — a bit less grunge-funky, a bit more stylish than many from Alphabet City. Must have been a good photographer and had a…