By Robert Field
For over a quarter of a century, I have patronized the same Italian-American barber shop in Wilkes-Barre, PA, starting with Frank, the father, and, when he retired for a few years, his older son, Aldo. Frank has returned to work part time and he is usually present, both sons and the grandson are busy with other customers, most also long term, and aging aunts and the grandson’s wife and children often move in and out. I suspect that much of the Luzerne County elite are patrons.
I so enjoy their discussion with patrons about sports, entertainment, travels and also talk of family plans. Although years ago Frank and I would carry on lively discussions concerning politics (his predictions were uncannily correct), in recent times I am but a silent member of the audience apart from joking about hair loss with Aldo.
Pete, Aldo’s slightly younger brother (approaching 50) is a bicyclist and one of the smarter individuals I have encountered. I have heard him discuss innumerable subjects and his comments, be it sports, entertainment, travel and what have you, are far excel normal barber shop talk.
Yesterday he was describing in depth and profundity many of the attractions of the greater New Orleans area. I have visited there on three occasions but most of the points of interest he described were revelations to me. He has a natural passion for history, although I doubt that he made it further than a high school education.
Despite my long term patronage, Pete and I have not exchanged a half a dozen words. There was always an awkward silence between us, in part because of my inability to chime in to the conversation and my status as a leading area businessman.
However yesterday Pete mentioned “All the way with LBJ”, the remarkable movie produced by and now playing on HBO. I immediately commented form the next chair that I thought it was one of the best, if not the best, docudrama I had ever viewed.
It was like lighting kindling! Peter stepped over to my chair and, frontally addressing me, entered into an animated conversation about the virtues of the performances, versasimiltude, writing and direction. It was as though we were long time friends and fellow academics.
Along with my partial face blindness, I can’t make small talk. But bring up a family issue, business, government, history, economics or just about any subject about which I care, it is hard to shut me up.
