Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a barber in Visaginas is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. So, I roll into work at my little shop on Dainavos street, right? The sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First customer walks in. It’s this dude, let’s call him Mantas. He’s got hair like a lion’s mane. I mean, seriously, bro, you could hide a small family in there. He plops down in my chair, and I’m like, “What’s up, man? Ready for a trim?” He just stares at me, all serious. I’m thinkin’, “Did I say something wrong?” Turns out, he just got dumped. Oof. So, I’m tryin’ to cheer him up while I’m snippin’ away. I’m throwin’ out jokes like confetti, but he’s not havin’ it.
Then, outta nowhere, the power goes out! Just my luck, right? I’m in the middle of a haircut, and it’s pitch black. I’m like, “Great, now I’m a barber in a horror movie.” Mantas freaks out, and I’m just tryin’ to keep it cool. I grab my phone, turn on the flashlight, and keep cuttin’. It’s like a scene from a bad comedy.
Finally, the lights flicker back on, and I finish Mantas’s cut. He looks in the mirror and, dude, he’s smiling! I’m like, “See? You’re lookin’ fresh!” He leaves, and I’m feelin’ like a hero for a hot second.
Next up is this lady, let’s call her Rasa. She’s got a million stories. She starts talkin’ about her cat, and I’m like, “Cool, cool.” But then she goes off about how her cat is the reincarnation of her grandma. I’m tryin’ not to laugh, but it’s hard, man. I’m just nodding along, like, “Yeah, totally makes sense.”
Then, she drops this bomb: “You know, Visaginas used to be a big deal, right?” I’m like, “Yeah, the whole nuclear power plant thing.” She goes on about how the city was built for the workers and how it’s changed. I’m thinkin’, “Wow, this place has history.” But then she starts ranting about how the youth don’t appreciate it. I’m like, “Lady, I’m 30, I get it!”
After Rasa, I take a breather. I step outside for a sec, and man, the view from the park on Ežero street is killer. The lake is glistening, and I’m just soaking it all in. But then, I see this kid on a bike, and he wipes out right in front of me. I rush over, and he’s fine, just a little scraped up. I’m like, “Dude, you good?” He’s all tough, like, “I’m fine!” But I can see he’s about to cry. I hand him a band-aid from my first-aid kit, and he’s like, “Thanks, man.”
Back in the shop, I’m feelin’ all the feels. Then, my buddy Tomas walks in. He’s got this wild idea to throw a block party on Geležinkelio street. I’m like, “Dude, that’s awesome!” But then he starts talkin’ about live music and food trucks, and I’m like, “Whoa, slow down!”
By the end of the day, I’m exhausted. I’ve laughed, I’ve almost cried, and I’ve learned more about Visaginas than I ever thought I would. I lock up the shop, and as I walk home, I can’t help but smile. This city, man, it’s got its quirks, but it’s home.
So yeah, that was my day. Just another wild ride in Visaginas. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!