It wasn’t until after I published Chuck Senior’s first story that I realized Chuck never had a chance to officially say goodbye to all his customers after 50 years of cutting hair in Mount Washington. After his heart attack and his shop’s abrupt closing, many were probably left confused and saddened by being unable to bid Chuck a proper farewell.
So I took the opportunity to collect all the comments you left for Chuck across Facebook and my website and presented them to him, along with a print of a picture I took, so that he can experience at least a portion of the farewell he deserved. As you can see from the picture, I think your words made his day.
“That’s really cool,” Chuck said.
He reminisced over the names of commenters and told me stories of each that he read. Like how one boy fell asleep in his shop after school as he was waiting for a haircut. A snowstorm had blown in and Chuck drove him home so the boy’s mother wouldn’t have to go out in the snow to get him.
He told me about the guys who would bring him food because some days Chuck wouldn’t even get a chance to eat. Chuck said sometimes he would have to throw in some chewing tobacco to stave off the hunger.
“It was good times,” Chuck said. “If my legs were good I’d go back into it, but my knees are too far gone.” Fifty years of “sliding side to side,” as Chuck puts it, put quite a burden on his knees.
Progress
Other than his knee pain, Chuck told me he’s doing much better since his heart attack. “I’m getting better – a lot better,” Chuck said. A pair of dumbbells rested on the table where we talked. Chuck said his physical therapy has made him stronger. He listed off a series of medications he no longer has to take.
Chuck’s always on the move. In fact, it took me two weeks to get fitted into Chuck’s busy schedule. I think the only reason he wasn’t busy on this particular day was because it was so cold out. If he’s not going out to the Amish country, he’s visiting with his grandkids or attending his grandson’s hockey games.
“Do you have a message you would like to tell your customers?” I asked.
“I loved going to that barber shop – I swear to God I loved it. I just want to thank all my loyal customers over the years and tell them they can stop by and see me anytime they want.”
So if you were worried about Chuck, you don’t have to be. He’s going strong and in great spirits. He’s also in good company.
Before I left a friend of his came over to visit him. Chuck greeted him by calling him a dickhead then bid me farewell by calling me an asshole.
Yes, Chuck’s doing just fine.
Did you miss “The Lounge: Where the Backdoor is the Front Door? If so, you can read it here.
Hey boss…..I’m sure that you delivered a ton of messages to Chuck…..hoping that mine was one of them. I never had the opportunity to thank him in person. I went in his shop a few times afterwards but his chair was always full and had numerous folks waiting. Never seemed like the opportune time, for him, or me to have an emotional breakdown! I’m sure he probably doesn’t even remember me or my son given the number of folks he came in contact with everyday. I sure would love to give him a big hug and thank him profusely for the kindness he showed me, and my son Isaac, after the passing of Isaac’s dad.
Need to do story about Sarge, who was known by just about
everybody in Mt Washington in 50’s – 80’s…he was one of the Mount’s most colorful characters, but a friend to all.
I lived in Mt Washington growing up as a boy and my dad took me to Chuck’s shop regularly beginning in the early 70’s and throughout my teen years. I’m 51 now and my family lives in Clearwater, Florida. On my visits back to Cincinnati, I enjoyed taking my now 12 year old son in to see Chuck. His twin sister sat and watched and enjoyed all the stories about the shop including the original (still operating) Coke machine in the corner. Which by the way I would love to purchase that machine if at all possible!!
There was a neighborhood man that used to keep his sandwich meat and cheese I remember in the fridge, and on several occasions I was there as a child and watched the man come in with his bread, and make his sandwich with the stuff he had stored in the secret Coke machine door. Really entertaining.
My 12 year old daughter sat in the window and played with the little train and other toys, just like I used to do when little while awaiting my turn to be called – quite a trip back in time to watch.
Anyways, Chuck is a great guy and a Staple of the Mt Washington community. I also can’t forget Sarge, who would walk by, open the door and start his comments and light arguments at times with waiting clients, what a shop!
Congrats Chuck on your retirement, now onto the important stuff in life 🙂