Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a barber in Lagonegro is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. So, I roll into the shop on Via Roma, right? The sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Ha! Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First client walks in. It’s old Giuseppe. You know, the guy who thinks he’s still 20? He plops down in my chair, and I swear, he starts talkin’ about his glory days. “Back in my day, we had real pasta!” Like, dude, we still got pasta! Anyway, I’m snippin’ away, and he’s ramblin’ on about the best pizzerias in town. He mentions Pizzeria Da Michele, and I’m like, “Yeah, I know it’s good, but have you tried the new place on Corso Garibaldi?” He looks at me like I just insulted his mother. Classic Giuseppe.
Then, outta nowhere, the power goes out. Just my luck, right? I’m halfway through a fade, and the lights go dark. I’m like, “Great, now I’m a barber in the dark ages.” I grab my phone, turn on the flashlight, and keep cuttin’. Giuseppe’s still yappin’, but now he’s freakin’ out. “What if I look like a clown?” I’m like, “Bro, you already look like one!” Just kidding, I didn’t say that. But I thought it!
After the power’s back, I finish up, and he looks in the mirror. “Not bad, kid!” He says. I’m like, “Kid? I’m older than you!” But whatever, I’ll take the compliment.
Next up is Maria. She’s a regular, always wants the same bob cut. But today, she’s got this wild look in her eyes. “I just got back from a trip to the mountains!” she says, all excited. I’m thinkin’, “What mountains?” Turns out she went to the Pollino National Park. I’m like, “Nice! Did you see any bears?” She laughs, “Nah, just a bunch of hikers.” I’m like, “Bears would’ve been cooler.”
So, I’m cuttin’ her hair, and she starts tellin’ me about this crazy hike she did. She slipped on a rock and fell into a stream. I’m laughin’ so hard, I almost mess up her cut. “You should’ve seen it! I was soaked!” I’m like, “Next time, bring a life jacket!”
Then, the door swings open, and in walks this dude. He’s got a mohawk that’s taller than my chair. I’m thinkin’, “What the heck?” He sits down, and I’m like, “You sure you want me to touch that?” He laughs and says, “Just make it sharper!” I’m like, “Sharp? You want a weapon or a haircut?”
As I’m workin’ on his hair, he starts talkin’ about the local music scene. Apparently, there’s a gig at the Teatro Comunale tonight. I’m like, “Dude, I’m a barber, not a DJ!” But he’s all hyped up about it. “You gotta come! It’s gonna be lit!” I’m like, “Yeah, I’ll just finish up my day of chaos first.”
Finally, the day winds down. I’m exhausted, but I can’t help but smile. Lagonegro is wild, man. The streets are alive with chatter, and the smell of fresh bread from the bakery on Via Nazionale is wafting through the air. I step outside, and it’s like the whole town is buzzing.
I grab a slice from Pizzeria Da Michele on my way home. Best decision ever. I sit on a bench in Piazza San Giovanni, munching on my pizza, and just soak it all in. The mountains in the background, the laughter of kids playing, and the old folks gossiping. This is home, ya know?
So yeah, today was a rollercoaster. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Lagonegro, you crazy little town, you keep me on my toes!