Winter 2006-07: Doing Things Differently

I received the usual warm greetings from everyone as I stepped into Herb’s shop. Mr. Ron Hatfield from North East was sitting in the chair, and I noticed his cut was about done.

“I’m going to do things a little different Herb,” I announced. “From now on I’m going to interview the person who is sitting in the chair, because it’s less confusing for me to write than when everyone has the floor at the same time.

“And let me add this, Herb” I continued, “If you have something profound to say, please turn your clippers off so that my recorder can clearly pick up this profoundness.”

Herb quickly shot back, “Looks like these clippers are going to stay on for a long time.” The shop burst into laughter, and I had the feeling that Herb and I were on a roll. “Herb, I’m also going to take pictures of your victims…I mean clients…and post them on our web site, www.cecilsoilmagazine.com. I know our readers would enjoy seeing this cast of characters, and it would be an added dimension to “Hair Cuts,” don’t you think?” Everyone in the room smiled and nodded their heads in agreement, so the interview began.

Mr. Hatfield smiled and said, “Boy, that makes me feel a lot better.” The laughing picked up when someone said, “If you get a picture of that, I would love to have it.”

As he left the shop, Mr. Hatfield offered, “Don’t worry about anything…after election day, it’s going to be a lot better for all of us.” Someone asked, “Why’s that?” Mr. Hatfield smiled and responded, “Haven’t you heard all those promises the politicians are making?” Everyone chuckled at this departing zinger.

This political talk reminded Herb of a get-together (meet the candidates) in his backyard on the coming Saturday, and he welcomed everyone in the room to attend.

An 83-year-old gentleman, Mr. Freeman Galoff, and his lovely wife Beverly entered the shop, sat down, and quickly joined in the conversation. Her charming accent and voice reminded me of the late Kathryn Hepburn.

“We were originally from Wisconsin and moved to the Elkton area in 1969,” said Beverly. Herb injected, “You better be careful how you write about them, Ed, they’re both teachers.”

“Yes, we both have Doctorates,” said Beverly. (I found out later that Mrs. Galoff wrote a nationally- used reading program. She won an award from the National Department of Education and received a letter from President Bill Clinton.)

“Freeman was the first Dean of Students for the Cecil Community College before they even had any buildings,” she noted. “Doctor Nash, the first president, hired him.

“We decided to take the job and moved out here from Wisconsin. When we first moved here our kids hated it because there was nothing to do in the winter time…we were so used to skiing and such. In Wisconsin all the fire departments would make ice skating rinks for the kids; they even installed warming houses for them. And here, you have to drive so far just to go skiing. And now all three of them don’t want to go back.

“My son, James Galoff, works for the Cecil Whig…I don’t know what his title is, but he is in charge of advertising.”

She went on to tell about Freeman’s father, Fredrick, who fought in World War I, and how strong feelings made for some difficult times afterward.

“He won the Distinguished Service Cross for pulling wounded soldiers out… they told him to stop, ‘you’re wounded yourself,’ but he wouldn’t stop,” she said. “After the war he drove a milk truck in Wisconsin, and even though he saved many American lives, people would throw things at his truck as he drove by—just because he had a German name.”

Mrs. Galoff was certainly a very spirited lady, and held everyone spellbound with her wonderful story. Mr. Galoff sat attentively, enjoying his wife’s conversation and did not speak very much. And when I asked her how she uses her time, she replied, “He [her husband] is ten years older than me and has had a couple small strokes and I don’t leave him very much…it works out.”

Above left, Delegate Dave Rudolph and two ladies enjoy a friendly conversation at Herb’s backyard get-together.	Above right, a young fellow on the back porch of Herb’s boat-house pulls up the net and every time he did, he had fish in it.
Above, Eleanore Benjamin enjoying her company in the screened gazebo.