The Kindly Barber

Jack Kuhni was a man who was very disabled. He was hard to understand when he talked. He walked with difficulty. We learned not to rush him in what he was trying to say. He was intelligent. He just had a hard time getting the words out. He went to school with my dad and mom, though he was a couple of years older than them. When he was an adult, his family dropped him off in town and he wandered around visiting with the town folks. It gave him something to do. My dad's barbershop was one of his favorite stopping spots. Dad opened at 4:00 in the afternoon and Jack stopped in shortly after that. Sometimes he was waiting at the door for dad to open. Dad suspected that some people who were uncomfortable with Jack's disability, did not come to get their hair cut from dad. But, dad didn't need customers like that.

Dad said Jack got worse as time went on. We just know that he was pretty bad by the time we were able to know him. But, we always stopped and talked to him. He enjoyed seeing us grow up. I remember sitting in the barbershop watching dad cut hair while Jack laughed at stuff we'd say to dad. Dad's bowling and softball trophies lined the shelves in the shop and his antique cash register was a treasure. Dad had a bottle of stuff he put on the men's hair that made them smell good. He said it was Pigeon Milk. Jack asked Dad questions about his Wednesday night bowling league and Dad's fifth graders. Dad could tell a lot of stories and they weren't wasted on Jack. He loved laughing at Dad's jokes.

When dad retired, Jack was probably pretty sad. But, by then Jack was no longer able to get around anymore and dad went to his house and cut his hair. He cut his hair every month or so until he died at age 68. Jack wrote a symphony, note by note, which must have been very painstakingly done. He had very poor motor control in his twisted hands. I think I heard that the Midway Swiss Chorus performed some of his musical arrangements. I salute my dad for the kindness and care he gave to Jack Kuhni. Dad was a good friend.