a keeper

as we all know, it's difficult to find a hair stylist who is competent, pleasant, affordable and attuned to one's unique, vivacious and forward-looking style.  i had the greatest person ever back in my graduate school days, and after two years in the ROC, i'm still looking.  the search may be over, however, because when i recently went to the latest tryout/haircut, upon finding out that i am a professor, she *actually* said:  "so i bet even though it seems like you have summers off, you actually always have a lot of other stuff to do, huh?"

no person not in the industry of higher education EVER doesn't assume we have summers "off." let me try that with fewer negatives:  everyone always assumes that professors have summers off. unless they themselves are a professor.  (we do not have summers off, although it is true that we are on our own time and can work at home.)  this is the most thoughtful thing i have ever heard another human being say, not only because it's out of the ordinary commentary about my own personal job, but also because it is singularly, shockingly, mind-blowingly not resentful, i.e., it begins with sympathy (on a topic with which the speaker is unfamiliar, no less!) rather than suspicion or jealousy or condemnation.  unlike most people in most professions, this hair stylist does not have the problem of other minds!  i should get my hair cut more often.