He is from Italy and tells me that he has been cutting hair since he was 12. He is now well into his 40s.
'Gus' - not his real name - has 3 levels of talking - a) none; b) little; and c) just a bit more.
Today was my 6 week Pilgrimage to see him at his shop in down town Ottawa. He was stuck on level a) this morning.
In fact I can recall word for word our conversation despite the fact that I am getting somewhat forgetful and despite the fact that we spent some 40 minutes together - head to head sort of speaking.
In fact, had I not attempted to converse with him today - there would have been no conversation.
A Word by Word Account:
- Hi Gus......hi
- Nice Day?...guess so
- Guess you have been following the Soccer World Cup? ....nope (this despite the fact that his walls are covered with numerous pictures of various Italian Soccer Teams)
- Are your boys still in Judo?...nope
- Have either reached University yet?...one has.
- What's he taking...don't know.
At this point I thought I just might as well give up - I was beginning to sense that he was determined not to say anything.
I tried one more time knowing that he likes to put in large vegetable gardens.
Have you got your garden in yet Gus? What do you think - I wait till August?
Well at least my question elicited his longest response of the day. It also turned out to be his last.
The hair cut done - I paid Gus in silence and walked out.
I wonder what level he'll be at in 6 weeks time.
"Galagher"
