"TheOldBarbershop" - created along the lines of the old barbershops, same but different, where folks would gather to visit with friends - share life experiences - tall tales - or maybe discuss politics, religion, sports, news, weather, current affairs or just about anything interesting or imaginable
We thought it might be good to tell folks a bit about the old barbershop, its history and its barbers ... somehow I got elected ... that's another way of saying that the Southern Jackass is a whole bunch bigger than me!Miss Carol says I'm an old rambling wreck from Georgia Tech ... and all four are true, but I ain't no engineer! It ain't by intent that I ramble but as you'll see, it takes me four pages to write what others do in less than one ... advance sincere apologies!
If you've read our story then 
That's right, Plato's Place was a barbering school ... that's why some folks called it 
Yes, I misuse and abuse this language I love ... 
... after the '
Nobody knows what Jimmy really looks like, at least until now ... he can say more with a couple of words and a picture than most of us can in two or three pages ... you'll find proof positive on the walls of the Shop and his frequent comments!
There you'll also find his ward and our favorite columnist, 
In the Shop, I talk a lot about mirrors and self-portraits ... the perception that others have is one thing, how we see ourselves is another. The notion of mirrors and self-portraits ... seemed rather easy to grasp ... but, when you try to grab hold of it, things just ain't as simple as they might seem, ... danged if some self-portraits aren't almost photographic in their reproduction while some mirrors give distorted renderings of reality. It's not enough to just use any old mirrors for reflection ... they must be of the right stuff and kind.
I talk a lot about things of which I know nothing too, but if I didn't, I wouldn't have anything to say ... it's another thing that differentiates SJA and JJS from most methinks ...
SJA's ability to reflect and look deep down inside ... and to be honest with himself ... is rare ... at least my experience has been that most either cannot or are unwilling to so do ... it is not just coincidence or happenstance that 
Mother knew Polonius ... and agreed with him too ... though she would loan anyone in need anything she had, without expectation of it being returned, including money. Like Houseman's wisdom ... Mama's words weren't truly appreciated until long after they were received .. though they were the topic of frequent discussion ...
Being true to yourself ... knowing yourself .. the individual behind the many masks ... it's a rare gift, perhaps the rarest of all .. the trick methinks, is knowing how to use it ...
Knowing who and what we are ... recognizing our limitations ... shortcomings ... and weaknesses ... that's power that the majority of humanity does not possess. Unfortunately, those few so gifted frequently turn it into a liability rather than an asset. They allow the realization of their limitations ... shortcomings ... weaknesses ... and past failures or rejections to give them fear of failure rather than confidence in success as it should ... and when adversity is encountered, they see history repeating itself ... oftentimes giving up in frustration rather than defining and addressing the problems ...
Those who confuse self-portraits with mirrors admire themselves and blindly go forth with total confidence, for they believe they possess all the answers, usually surrounding themselves with non-threatening, kindred spirits ... they are the truly enlightened! ...
Say it ain't so Joe! ...
and if you can't think geometrically, that's okay ... the three of us can't cut hair neither, were it not for them bowls, but as you can see ... it was that or jail for Jimmy, SJA and me! 
We've been truly blessed to add first 
inspired ... and it's one thing that won't ... "
How many different shoe sizes are there? Hard to say, what with all the different systems and variances by manufacturer... but, it doesn't really matter, I say if the shoe fits, ... wear it!
One thing's for sure, for every size there are a whole bunch of folks wearing 'em ... problem is, footprints, like fingerprints are rather unique and as a result, a whole bunch of folks have corns ... and bunions too. Jimmy will vouch for that! 
If the shoe fits, ... then wear it, but do try it on first.
That's especially true for custom shoes ... what looks to be a perfect fit for us or someone we know, may have been designed for someone else ...
Tables are like shoes, methinks ... when I say table, some folks see a black mahogany, Chinese Chippendale ... others, a walnut Sheraton ... or maybe a Hepplewhite, and no doubt some, a modern three legged thing, painted white with a glass top ... we see what we want to see, and sometimes what we don't. I once wrote a piece for the paper on Chippendale Furniture ... and, in order to meet the deadline, I called it in ... it caused quite a ruckus ... for everywhere I had said Chippendale, it read "Chip 'n Dale"
Modern Art is like shoes too ... lots of folks are quick to tell you what it means but 'bout the only one who really knows is the artist and they're usually dead ...
Shoes, tables, and art interpretation ... things with which one should not trifle ... unless you like corns and bunions.
I know,"there he goes again" ... more recondite musings ...
No, every onion has its layers but my musings are as plain as an old pair of shoes ... well, sometimes more like those custom Ferragamos, but most of the time I'm "more Chip 'n Dale" than Chippendale. While recondite may appear to be the rule rather than the exception, ... and though my name isn't Joe, I was just telling you that it ain't so! ... and in the few cases where the humor seems pointed, it may be, but I always use rubber arrows and they're usually aimed at folks other than imagined.
Enjoy!
8 comments:
For those of you that don't know, Mr. Bobby used to own and run a furniture store before he went back to being an actuary (a number's guy).
Regarding the shoes, tables, art, ... corns and bunions ... Mama never met a stranger nor anyone without some qualities she liked ... enabling her to be friends with most.
I may not have inherited that as a trait but, I've had much the same experience and throughout my life and certain of my friends have had difficulty understanding how I could like those who didn't like them ...
I guess it depends upon the basis of your friendships ... I've been referencing and explaining that since perhaps my first month of blog participation severa1 years back ... and suggesting it should otherwise be, was always the wrong thing to say.
There was even who expressed disappointment that I could continue being friends with sja and jjs since they didn't like him ... can't remember that guy's name.
I do believe there was more than one ...
Yes, I renovated an old paper box building turned it into a furniture store ... was like Ethan Alan and places like that ... but back in the 1960s before any of them ... Henredon, Hickory Chair, Globe, Pennsylvania House, Kittinger ... folks like that.
that's what this blog has been missing . . . a good toe post. journalist bob is to be congratulated.
toes in the news . . . falcons quarterback matt ryan has a toe injury. jammed toe, turf toe, hurt toe . . . by any name it is painful.
ajc.com has a photo of ryan's 5 toes. why has no photo of chipper jones' undetermined number of toes been published?
this blog is probably the authoritative blog on toe health and toe news, so stay tuned for more.
and this journalist, much like sja, does not suffer fools lightly. that, sometimes, will make the fool uncomfortable. then, jjs and sja were always somewhat controversial bloggers wherever jjs and sja may have blogged.
Hear! Hear! jimmy smith!! ...
Everyone please take notice of my recent post and introduction of the new feature "Easychair Owners -- Sports Talk" ... it's a simple concept and pretty much self-explanatory ... please visit and see if it's something worth keeping, it's continued existence depends on each of you ... sja
To my controversial blogging friends ... Mama always said to be nice and not be controversial which I always try to do!
First because following Mama's advice is a good idea, and second ... controversial is one of them big words what's hard to spell and even harder to understand.
What's controversial to some ain't to others ... and vice versa ... like shoes!
Loved reading about the old days -- really old, before me. Great to see the tea cakes and Mother's cherry salad and candy online, as well her corn -- some of THE BEST FOOD IN THE WORLD. Thanks for making it available to the world -- on second thought the world should be thanking you and not me. By the way, that wasn't a picture of Mother's candy -- no way, it was too creamy looking -- Mother's was gritty and didn't look like that. But the wilted greens -- extraordinarily good. And Carol, dressing without a load of sage is no dressing at all. Thanks for sharing.
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