As the COVID-19 outbreak worsened across Alberta and around the world, I, like so many others, made many adjustments to my daily life.
But it never occurred to me until this past week, that those adjustments would include not getting my hair cut.
I tend to be really bad about getting my hair cut on a regular basis. Normally, I only remember to do so when my bangs start to become annoying and my hair starts to creep over my ears.
About 10 days ago, I realized that was the case again, so I made an appointment at the place where I’ve been getting my hair cut for years.
Given Alberta Health Services guidelines at the time for people to remain two metres apart and to not gather in groups of 50 or more, I was rather surprised — and relieved — when the person on the other line said that for the moment, they were continuing to take customers. So I made an appointment.
Last week, I got a call saying the company had changed its mind. I can’t blame them. But I feel for the company and its employees, as I do for all businesses and their employees in the region that have had to close, due to the virus.
It’s sad that it’s come to this.
We have no idea how long this will last and which, if any, businesses will be able to bounce back and reinstate or find new workers once the virus has been conquered in one way or another.
I realize that getting one’s hair cut — or not — is by no means the greatest problem for people dealing with COVID-19; obviously one’s overall health and managing to stay afloat financially are by far the greater concerns.
But it’s a tiny example of how much and how fast our lives have changed as a result of this pandemic.
In the meantime, my wife has offered to cut my hair. I suppose that will be the solution. Or I could horrify many by simply letting my hair grow and going back to the way I looked in the 1970s.
I think I’ll opt for the scissors.
Doug Collie is an editor with the Mountain View Albertan.
