#?question mark

ok people I need you to watch this in its ENTIRETY cause it's

funny

really pretty

actually a video game that you can

play on youtube

oversized hoodies are good

The older man who cut my hair was spanish. He didn't speak dutch, and very little english. I don't speak spanish, and sometimes have a hard time parsing heavy accents, so our communication was a little stilted.

But the way his eyes lit up when I told him I wanted to go short-short needed no translation. He was so excited, snapping his fingers and giggling. As he got closer to the end result, he kept nudging his colleagues as they walked past, pointing to me and excitedly saying something in spanish, so proud of his work.

I don't know if he realised this haircut was a bit of a gender thing for me. Before getting to the salon, I had considered telling whoever would be doing my hair, but I ended up not doing that because of the language barrier. But maybe he understood anyway, because he called me both hermosa and hermoso. Either way, I'm pretty sure he understood this haircut was important to me. When I left, he grabbed my hands, gave me a kiss on the cheek and a hug (which, I mean, he's both spanish and queer, I'm sure he's a lot freer with affection than most dutch people, but still). I was near tears as I walked to the tram.

We barely talked to each other. I'd say 80% of our conversation was made up of short sentences of him checking I was happy with the progress as he went, and me assuring him I loved it. But I have never felt more supported, never felt more love from a stranger, than in that hour in his chair.

The haircut ended up costing more than I'd been hoping to spend, but considering the amount of work and love he put into it, how happy I am with it, and just the hour of sheer joy and support I experienced, I was happy to pay.

- cute family on a trip

- really ugly bruise after falling from ladder

- cool photos but not much training ひひひ

- a sneaky pic of me from my sister, pretty view and Sir. Stincky Legs resting on my car

- trip to the lake with Miss Doll (RIP Snally, I've never got to know you but I'm sure you were a great Snail!)

- sketch of someone from a favorite book of mine