Coincidence! Yesterday's haircut for Tom in Ribeira Brava, Madeira, Portugal ...One year ago to the date, haircut for Tom in Pescia, Italy!

Tom waiting in the salon chair for his haircut.

Yesterday, we took off for two reasons; one, Tom was curious to find a road we could see from our veranda but couldn't seem to get to; two, for him to get a haircut.

After driving up and down hills for over an hour, he finally found the road he was seeking proving to be not unlike many of the other roads here in the island. The maze like roads on the many mountain levels consist of one hairpin turn after another making it harder to find a specific road than one would think.

The second task of the day was a quick trip to the Farmacia (pharmacy) for another container of my new favorite roll on insect repellent and contact lens solution for our upcoming travels.

The stylist began the cut using the typical electric hair cutter.

Purchasing these few items now would prevent us from thinking about finding a pharmacy in Paris or London or paying outrageous prices on the cruise from London on August 31, 2014. There aren't mosquitoes or many sand flies on cruises, at least not any that we've seen but, at least I'm well armed for the future.

Back to the haircut. Once we arrived in Ribeira Brava we found a free place to park on the street, taking off on foot to find obscure location of a salon that Tom had seen on google maps. We knew we were in the general area deciding we'd wander around until we found it.

Of course, it was tucked away inside a building in a tiny mall. Of course, we entered that tiny mall within the first two minutes of our walk and there was the salon. We laughed. We could easily have walked past that not-so-obvious doorway.

Surely, this style is easy care.

For years, I've known that Tom wanted a "buzz" cut. For years, I whined a little when he'd mention it, never having cared for that particular style. No offense intended for all buzz cut fans out there. We all have our preferences.

As soon as we walked into the tiny salon, I knew I could no longer resist. It was his hair and the time had come. Speaking no English, the stylist got the drift when he pointed to his head and said, "Buuuuuuuuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz." She understood. I cringed.

As she was buzzing away, she often looked at me for approval. I nodded that she was doing fine, regardless of the look on my face. As more and more clumps of his white hair fell to the floor, I sat back in resignation that this was his, and my, fate for the next six weeks until it grows back.

His locks accumulated on the salon floor.

Let's face it, as we age, our parts start falling, the wrinkly skin seems to get worse each day and our level of attractiveness seems to waft away, present company included. But, the magic of love somehow makes us remember the true beauty of the person we fell in love with and none of this matters.

When we met 23 years ago, Tom was 38, I was 43. Neither of us had falling parts. We never gave gravity much of a thought. Now, all these years later, gravity is not our friend. Years ago, I told myself that plastic surgery and Botox were not for me and I stayed away. Can you imagine trying to find a place for a Botox touch-up while living in Belize, Kenya or Marloth Park, South Africa?

Even going to a salon is something I prefer not to do. I do my own hair, nails and pedicures which I've done for years. Imagine how much I'd spend and the inconvenience of going to a salon once a month when we've had a hard enough time finding a place for Tom's haircuts in various countries.

He still has that cute smile. He said his hair hasn't been this short since the summer of 1963.

In many countries, no one speaks English and calling to make an appointment would be ridiculous. For Tom's haircuts in various countries we always show up without an appointment prepared to wait if necessary.

So here's his buzz cut. Not my cup of tea. As much as I try to like it, I simply can't. I grasp for the fact that it will grow back and in no time, I'll have my familiar grey mop haired guy back.

For the sake of love and kindness I don't say much about it or scowl when I look at him. But, who am I kidding? He proofreads these daily posts for typos and I don't believe he does so mindlessly with no attention to content. Today, he will see how I feel, if he didn't already suspect.

The haircut completed, he paid the EU $8 with a EU $2 tip for a total US $13.51 and we were on our way.

He knows that I love him no matter his haircut or visible signs of aging, as he does me, totally oblivious of my hanging parts often complimenting me when they're most obvious. That's love for ya!
_______________________________________________

Photo from one year ago today, July 12, 2013:

Tom was having a much needed haircut in Pescia, Italy that we shared one year ago today. For details of that day, please click here.