a random act of kindness

13 Aug, 2025

Was walking up Mission Street this afternoon after dropping by the SF Human Services Agency in SoMA, when I pinged Lyra Corvus for "$20 haircuts in the Mission," and after some turns was suggested 💈 “Special Hair Cuts,” on Mission and 26th, owned and operated by someone named Connie, who got rave reviews on Yelp, Reddit and elsewhere.

So, when I got to Connie’s (on Mission and 26th), I saw that it was a really small shop, with only 2 barber chairs. She had a client she was working on; so, just 1 person before me. I stuck my head in to ask how much for a cut, and she said $25. I told myself why not, and walked in and sat on the waiting bench. Her current client said, “You’re in the right place!”

As she continued his haircut, they continued chatting. Obviously a long-term client, the man was voluble, loud-spoken, and their conversation was familiar, friendly. They continued on for a few minutes, and when they were done, he got up and Connie got ready for me... sweeping the hair, preparing the bib. I asked if she took credit cards or ApplePay. She said cash only, and pointed to the corner bodega across the street, saying there was an ATM there. I hesitated, concerned that sometimes these bodega ATMs can have those "skimmers" - concealed readers that take the card info for nefarious purposes.

The guy saw my hesitation. He was big, burly, Hispanic, middle-aged, saw some tattoos on his arm. He took out some bills, $20s I think, and laid them on Connie’s small desk and said that he got me. I thanked him profusely, asked for his name (Javier), shook his hand, and said that I’d pay it forward. He was happy and cheerful, and so was Connie. What a nice man!

As she cut my hair, I chatted with Connie, who's been at it for 26 years, with 2 years left on her 5-year lease on this small space. The original was half a block down on Mission, before Cesar Chavez (née Army). Vietnamese, she has a boyfriend/partner, but no kids. Now at 62, may retire in a few more years. Has lots of loyal clientele. But barely made it through Covid. I told her she now has a new loyal client in me, and that I won’t mind coming here from lower Russian Hill/Fort Mason.

Connie has Filipino family members, on her boyfriend’s side. We shared notions of food, including where the best pho is. She said Daly City (she lives in the Outer Richmond, near Stonestown), which I exclaimed is also where I go for Pinoy food.

I asked her about Javier. He apparently works at the Golden Gate Bridge National Park area in the Presidio, but lives near here, in the Ingleside. And that he’s a preacher! I shared with Connie that my own parents were Protestant clergy. And that Pastor Javier may have intuited or sensed that somehow? ::chuckle::

So. There I was, looking for a non-existent $20 haircut in vain, only to find a free one! I shall definitely pay this one forward. What a blessing.

[ Two recent self portraits, one outside the other inside... ]