My dad asked me to give him a haircut last night.

[Maddy McCall]

I groom my schnauzer, which isn't really hard to do. But I've never cut human hair.

My dad is a Depression-era baby, and he's tired of paying $15 every other week for a haircut. He thinks it's wasteful (even though he can afford it). You have to know him. His favorite saying is, "I own a car for transportation, I eat to survive, and I dress to be decent." In other words, he doesn't see the point in driving a fancy new car, wearing dressy clothes (even though he's quite a looker when he dresses up for church), or eating at expensive restaurants.

So, last night, my mom and dad were visiting, and my dad noticed that I had recently groomed the dog, and he asked me to cut his hair. He and my mom were to go on a trip to see the Dead Sea Scrolls today with a group of "golden agers" from their church, and he said he needed to get a hair cut before the trip. I don't know why I agreed. I truly don't.

So, I got my clippers out, and some scissors, and started cutting. Well, the first pass of the clippers through my dad's gorgeous shock of white hair left him nearly bald. And did I mention that he has a gorgeous shock of white hair?

When my mom and son saw what I had done to my dad, they rolled over on the couch and laughed. I mean REALLY laughed--you know, the kind of gutteral, belly laugh that can result in wet pants. Then I started laughing.

My dad got mad and told them to leave the room. Well, I finished my dad's hair. Did I mention that I have never cut human hair before?

I don't think that my dad will regret spending money at the barber now. He looked so pitiful when he left. Since he's a gentleman, I doubt that he will wear his hat on the trip today. He really should, though.

:(

[KitSileya]

1. LOL!!!

I'm sorry, but I really laughed too! Your poor Dad. Well, if he's the type who has to get his hair cut every 2 weeks, it should grow out pretty quickly.

[Maddy McCall]

6. My mom is a stoic...

person...I can't remember the last time I heard her laugh with such gusto.

I guess it was worth it to hear her laugh like that.

My dad's cool. He won't hold it against me, but I'm not going to be able to look at him for a couple of weeks. It will rip my heart out.

:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Ahhhh...I'm sure it looks better than you think.

;) And you gave your family belly laughs. Therefore, it was worth it. :hi:

[Maddy McCall]

4. No, it looked REALLY bad.

He defeated cancer last year. When he left here last night, his hair looked like it did when he was recovering from chemo.

He's a good sport, though, so I'm certain that there will be no hard feelings.

(After they left last night, I watched Godfather II, and I felt so guilty as I watched. All of those gorgeous Italian men with beautiful hair, and my dad now has a crew cut. :( )

[redqueen]

3. Ouch.

Hope you don't feel too bad about it ... he decided to take the risk.

Cutting hair is not something to be taken lightly. It takes a bit of practice. With a few more tries, you ought to manage just fine, though.

[Maddy McCall]

5. I'll stick to cutting my dog's hair.

:D

My dad is not a vain man. But his hair has always been gorgeous. I know he didn't hold it against me, but I held it against myself. I won't be able to visit with him for the next couple of weeks. :(

[Spinzonner]

7. No problem

Just get a leash for your dad

[Bouncy Ball]

8. THAT made me laugh hard.

When I was in high school, my dad was trying to save some money (that sumbitch Raygun was in office and things were tough) so he decided, in his drunken brain, that since I am female, I can naturally cut hair.

I cut his hair and my brother's hair about every three or four weeks for three years. My brother didn't want me to, but my dad insisted. Said he wasn't going to pay for my brother to get haircuts. My brother said that was fine, he'd grow it out long and shaggy. My dad said no way.

So I gave them sucky ass haircuts. I didn't even have clippers, just scissors and a comb, if you can FREAKING imagine that.

BTW, I sort of agree with your dad. My grandfather was the ultimate penny pincher and it passed down to my dad and to me. I lived with a coffee table I hated for about ten years because I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money on a new one. I already HAD one!

And we have a dishwasher that's just so-so and my husband wants to get a nice new one and....I just keep balking. It STILL washes the dishes! To me, it should be replaced when it is dead. Broken. Can't go no more.

Anyway. Your story was funny.

[Maddy McCall]

11. I should have known better than to try it.

I had butchered an ex-boyfriend's hair so bad a couple of decades ago. Don't know why I even thought my skill had improved. :shrug:

You and me...we come from the same sort of stock. :thumbsup: :D

[Guy Fawkes]

9. "paying $15 every other week"

How fast does his hair grow!?

[Maddy McCall]

12. FAST

Like I said, he has beautiful white hair, and he's old school, so when it hits the top of his ears, it's time to get it cut.

[Bunny]

10. OMG!!

That's funny, although I can appreciate your dad's consternation! Hey - it's only hair. It grows back.

[Maddy McCall]

13. That's EXACTLY what he said...

as he put on his hat when he walked out the door.

My dad can make a joke about anything. I am sure the guys at his church will rag him about it, but he'll handle it ok. :D

[Bunny]

14. Sounds like a pretty cool dad.

Mine was that way, too!

[Maddy McCall]

15. Yeah, he's my best friend.

We're both headstrong. We're both pretty frugal. We both like to work with our hands.

We fought like you can't imagine--until I came to realize just how much like him I am. After his recent brush with cancer, I came to appreciate him much more. The thought of losing him sends me into a terrible bout of depression.

I am sorry about you losing your dad. I hope you guys had a close relationship.

:hug: