Hmm
Driving to the barber shop the other day it felt like the driver’s side back wheel was ready to come off. I pulled into the lot, parked, looked everything over. Nothing appeared out of sorts.
Hmm.
These days it takes about as long to cut my hair (eyebrows included) as it does to comb it. Imagine dragging a rake through a desert. I still comb out of habit, not necessity. Actually, anymore I use a brush — Happy Wife’s. The bristles are closer together on a brush, I get more purchase, making me feel like the effort actually improved my appearance. It still costs me $17.00 for a haircut. Flat rate. Doesn’t matter. Hell, it could be Howard Stern in that chair. He could walk in, sit down, and say “Make me look like Jesse Ventura.” Wouldn’t matter — $17.00.
Lehi, my barber, always shows me his work in a mirror before I leave the chair, “How’s that. Think the missus will let you back in the house now?” It’s one of few narcissistic moments it’s okay to enjoy. Someone holds a mirror to your face and asks you to appraise your appearance. I look at myself and think, “Maybe save the selfie for another day?” It’s not that 55 years has devastated me, it’s just not a visage I think needs to be pixelated and preserved for posterity.
Some day, just to get my money’s worth, I’m going to have Lehi cut it all off. That oughta give Happy Wife a jolt.
I hand him a twenty and wave goodbye. He appreciates my business, is always grateful for the tip.
Turns out the wheel was about to fall off. Driving home after the haircut the noise and shaking got much worse. I slowed to make the u-turn a block from our driveway when the driver behind me honked. Which annoyed me at that instant — WTF, can’t I make a u-turn for God’s sake?!
Probably he/she was just trying to warn me was all.
Pulled in the driveway, got out of the car and looked at the wheel. 3 of 5 lugs gone, the pins sheared off. The two remaining lugs were loose.
Who would want to kill me?
Turns out it was probably me. The last time the wheel was removed was when I flatted on the Denali Highway, back in June when Happy Wife and I took off for an impromptu vacation. I must not have tightened the lugs properly. Although I do have a memory that I took special care to do so.
Hmm.
And to think they’ve been working themselves loose all this time. Yikes.
HW is back to sleeping in a tent in the backyard at night. Too warm in the house. Supposed to remain miserable through Friday, mid to high 70’s and sunny, and by Saturday turn nice again, low 60s and rain.
She’s doing the best she can under these difficult circumstances
