confronting aging, a world in transition
Menu

weekly blog--one for the ages

The Short Cut

3/9/2017

0 Comments

 
It started as a typical trip to the barbershop. But when I got there and sat in the chair, it was anything but typical. I asked the barber to cut my hair a little shorter than usual.

“Do you have haircut insurance?” he asked.

“I never heard of such a thing?”

“It’s all the rage in Scotland. It’s included in their universal health care coverage.”

“No wonder health care costs are escalating there too and the government can no longer afford it. Why would anyone need haircut insurance?”

“It’s more dangerous for barbers to cut the hair of older people. They have a propensity for falling asleep in the chair and unexpectedly moving their heads. Sometimes we accidentally jab them with the scissors and have to rush them to the hospital.”

“That sounds awful. But I don’t think Medicare covers haircuts?”

“Then I’ll have to add a 3% surcharge to your bill to cover any extra costs that I may incur.”

“Is that legal?”

“If the Republicans can charge older people more for their insurance, I think it’s only fair that I can do the same with my customers.”

“I don’t get it. I’ve been coming to your shop for years and nothing bad has ever happened.”

“That is true. But the statistics don’t lie. Older people are more prone to injury. And you just turned 65.”

“Instead of discriminating against age, why don’t you just raise your price across the board?”

“That would be unfair to my younger customers. Why should they pay extra to support old people?”

“Because one day they will be old too and might not have the means to afford a haircut! Why don’t you just charge customers by the amount of time it takes? Older people tend to have less hair.”

“Look pal. Don’t be such a wise-ass. You can argue all you want, but I’ve already made up my mind. You have a choice now. You can stay and pay me the surcharge, go to another barber or perhaps skip getting a haircut altogether.”

At that point, I got up from the chair, stalked out of the shop, went home, turned on my computer, and tried to find a youtube video on how to cut hair. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
    • Caring for Elderly Parent
    • Eating & Exercise
    • Emerging Technology & Concepts >
      • End of Life Options/Issues/Grieving >
        • VSED Primer
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Health Challenges
    • History of Aging >
      • Ancient Egypt, India, China
      • Before 1500
      • 1500s & 1600s
      • 1700s & 1800s
      • 1900s & 2000s
      • Early New England (1600s)
      • Quest To Look Young
      • Books
    • Housing Options & Aging in Place Guide
    • Insurance, Security, Fraud
    • Intergenerational Programs
    • LGBT
    • News & Trends
    • Positive/Successful Aging
    • Retirement/Estate Planning
    • Science of Aging
    • Support Resources
    • Travel
    • Weekly Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
    • Caring for Elderly Parent
    • Eating & Exercise
    • Emerging Technology & Concepts >
      • End of Life Options/Issues/Grieving >
        • VSED Primer
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Health Challenges
    • History of Aging >
      • Ancient Egypt, India, China
      • Before 1500
      • 1500s & 1600s
      • 1700s & 1800s
      • 1900s & 2000s
      • Early New England (1600s)
      • Quest To Look Young
      • Books
    • Housing Options & Aging in Place Guide
    • Insurance, Security, Fraud
    • Intergenerational Programs
    • LGBT
    • News & Trends
    • Positive/Successful Aging
    • Retirement/Estate Planning
    • Science of Aging
    • Support Resources
    • Travel
    • Weekly Blog
  • About
  • Contact