danajohnhill.org

I didn’t get a single haircut in 1994.  By the end of the following year I looked like a beardless hippie.  When the urge struck to shed my locks, I didn’t want to go to just anyone.  Sitting on a chair in Linda Fessenden’s bathroom, I watched my long hair fall on the floor.  From then on, if I needed a haircut, I’d go to a friend or do it myself.  The upside to this was that I saved a lot of money; the downside was that I often had bad hair.

When I first began seeing Miriam, I asked if she’d be willing to cut my hair.  I think she did once, but haircuts, in her opinion, are best left to professionals.  So, beginning in 2001 or so, she and I started seeing Amy at The Tease, which used to be in an upstairs suite on SE 1st Street.  Amy was nice, and did a good job, but The Tease was very expensive, and, if I recall correctly, Amy only got a fraction of what we paid.  Eventually she left The Tease and Miriam and I sought a new hairdresser.

I don’t remember how, but we found a girl named Danielle with her own salon called Hair Supply in an old house right behind Wise’s Drugstore.  Danielle is really talented–so much so that Miriam feels free to say, “give me whatever”–and she’s a mom who’s running her own business, so we feel good about going to her.  Plus, she’s not that expensive, and, best of all, she is glad to take a before and after picture each time I go.  Since 2005 or so, Danielle has been the only one to cut my hair.

Last month I had an appointment that I simply forgot about.  I had written it down, but by April 16 I was so busy with papers and tests that I simply spaced out.  So, today was my makeup haircut.  Miriam told me the other day she liked my hair when it was a bit longer, so I only got a little taken off the back.  And, while I didn’t get a shampoo–my favorite part of the haircut procedure–it didn’t cost me anything.

Danielle doesn’t do any advertising I know of, and her name isn’t even written on the outside of her building, but it seems like half the people I know go to her.  While I was there, I ran into one of Miriam’s roller derby teammates.

I doubt I will ever grow long hair again.

Fifty years ago today, a small plane crashed in Iowa killing Buddy Holly.

The death of such a talented figure so prematurely only inspires conjecture.  What might rock music be like today had Buddy Holly lived as long as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, or even Elvis or Roy Orbison?  I have no doubt that he would have continued to be relevant.  If you know even a few Buddy Holly songs you know how versatile he was.  “Rave On” and “It’s So Easy” are straight up rockers, but “Everyday” and “True Love Ways” are sensitive love songs.  When I was ten years old, I could not think of a better song than “Words of Love”.

Most of the events surrounding the crash are well known, but until a year or so ago I didn’t know that Dion had been offered a seat on the plane.  Only his share of the charter price made him take the frozen tour bus instead.  His parents’ rent had been $30, and he just couldn’t justify spending so much money for a short plane ride.

I wish Buddy Holly’s parents’ rent had been $30.

Bravo, Samuel Johnson, for being Wikipedia’s featured article today.

As I have written repeatedly, I think Samuel Johnson is the smartest man who ever lived.  He rose from modest beginnings to become the most esteemed man in England.  Boswell’s great Biography has a wonderful anecdote about Johnson’s encounter with George III.  The king asked to be informed when Johnson was in the library, and introduced himself to Johnson there.  He asked if Johnson was writing anything new, to which Johnson “answered, he was not, for he had pretty well told the world what he knew, and must now read to acquire more knowledge”, and that he thought he had “done his part as a writer”.  “I’d have thought so, too…if you had not written so well”, was the King’s reply.  Johnson considered it such a high compliment that he could make no reply.  “When the king had said it, it was to be so. It was not for me to bandy civilities with my Soverign”.

I consider my summer in Professor McCrea’s Age of Johnson course a life changing experience.  If I could recommend any writing to anybody, I’d say that everyone should read the great Rambler essays.

Huzzah, Johnson.

It’s true, I guess, that all good things must come to an end.

Until this afternoon, Gainesville had a wonderful old soda fountain at Wise’s Drug Store on University Avenue, downtown.  It had been open for over seventy years, and was the kind of place where sassy ladies with names like Gladys would give you a hard time if you asked for a “hamburger with cheese” or didn’t know the difference between an ice cream float and a vanilla soda.  I had been going to Wise’s for as long as I’ve lived in Gainesville.  They made the best vanilla milkshakes anywhere, and served them with a spoon, and always gave you the excess in the stainless steel cup they mixed it in.  You could get malt added if you wanted, but I like things for their thingness, so I kept it simple.

Earlier this month it was announced that Wise’s would be closing.  They’ll still keep a drive-through pharmacy on SW 4th Avenue, but the soda fountain is no more.

As a dyed in the wool nostalgist, this is a sad occasion for me.  Clearly, soda fountains aren’t as common as they once were, especially ones still located inside drug stores where you could buy a hot water bottle and a shaving brush one aisle over.  Moreover, Wise’s closing means a significant site of Dana Heritage is now lost. I ate at that counter with many close friends over the years, some of whom have moved far away or with whom I have lost touch.  I shared many memorable moments there with my one true love.  On special occasions when Mrs. Hill would have an afternoon off, we’d have lunch together there at the counter.  And I know many others will miss Wise’s.  I even have two close friends who went to Wise’s directly after getting married last year in the courthouse downtown.  Since the closing was announced there have been long lines to eat, and while we were there this afternoon I could see some people weeping.

The economy being what it is, the building will probably sit empty for a while.  Eventually it’ll become a bar or club, or, more accurately, a series of bars and clubs that last a year or less each.

What a sad day.

A few thoughts about what has just happened:

• President Obama’s address was one of the best ever given
• I wish Chief Justice Roberts hadn’t botched the oath
• The crowds stretching from the Capitol to the Washington Monument were biblical
• It looked very cold, but I was glad the sky was blue
• I feel very happy and very proud

More thoughts to come.