Manel, 58 year old hairdresser from Barcelona
Chapter 1. Barcelona
“The love you receive from your family growing up has a great influence on who you become. Mine gave me a lot”.
I’ve known Manel for as long as I can remember. He is my lifelong hairdresser. Despite us being friendly, he is one of those people (like your doctor or your dentist) who you see one afternoon every 3 or 4 months for the short period of time of an hour. Therefore, I had never really gone in-depth with him. Making him a part of my series allowed me to talk thoroughly with him for the first time.
And so I called Llongueras hairdressing salon at Calle Balmes and made an appointment. Manel was more than willing to answer my questions, he thought it would be fun. Consequently, I found myself juggling between getting my haircut and holding an interrogation for my article. The whole salon was staring at us, while we laughed and chatted about life and I wrote everything down in my notebook. To be honest, it was a funny picture to stare at: a young girl with her hair all over her face trying to keep track of every detail this vigorous and joyfully elated man was saying. But they all knew Manel, and him talking this loud wasn’t an anomaly.
When I tell Manel that before I leave the salon, I want to take a picture of him, he tells me “sure!”. While I grab my camera, without even noticing, he’s checking himself out in the mirror, blow-drying his hair. “It’s just that I’ve had this swirl in my hair all day, give me a moment”. Once he’s looking fabulous, I take a portrait photo of him. He waves goodbye, hating the fact that he can’t give me a hug because of COVID.
How are you, really? I’m the happiest man alive right now because, after Covid’s devastating effects on my professional career, I have been lucky enough to end up in a new salon surrounded by marvellous coworkers. For one’s happiness, the work environment is everything, since it’s where you spend most of your day. Today I work with kind and good people who always ask me how my day is going. It’s wonderful.
What does being strong mean to you? It means that despite the size of the adversity coming towards you, despite how hard a situation might get, you’ll be able to conquer it and rise victorious. But it is also true that sometimes the bravest thing to do is to ask for help.
What are you most thankful for? The COVID situation has actually brought me more good things than bad things. Now, because of the limitations on opening hours salons have, I sneak out to see my mother as much as I can. She is sick, she has dementia. Today I have more time for her, and I’m so thankful for that.
What are the 3 things you value most about a person? Someone who loves genuinely, honesty and loyalty.
Where do you find meaning in your life? In spending time with my 19-year-old nephew. If I’d had a child, I wouldn’t love him more than I love my nephew. We have a very close relationship. I’m like a second father to him.
Fill in the blank: I feel loved when ______. When they worry about you when you least expect it. When people care about me and my well being. With a simple and honest “how was your day?”.
Where do you go when everything is falling apart? I go home, my sanctuary, because I’m crazy about it. I don’t own a lot but I’ve got a little bit of everything. I was born in the same neighbourhood I live in today. I have a small terrace. There, I’m at peace. It’s my shelter. We’ve all seen how important it is to take care of your home with lockdown. It has to feel welcoming and make you feel comfortable with yourself. When everything is falling apart, I also rely on my faith, my religion. My grandparents gave me an image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel that I pray to every day. I thank her for all my graces and ask her for help when I’m in need. “When you’re troubled, entrust yourself to Mary’’, my grandma used to say.
What is your biggest fear? Something bad happening to my family and the ones I love the most. But I have faith in God. Accepting tough situations that you don’t understand is hard, but you always have to trust the one above. Worry and fear are human. I fear eternity. I would like to leave this world calm and in peace, wherever it is we might go after this.
