I learned a valuable lesson today. If, in an attempt to make small talk, you ask the woman cutting your hair if she has any big plans for the upcoming 4th of July holiday, be sure that there are no potential language barriers. If there are such barriers, she might interpret your casual query as a proposition of some sort, point to a ring on her finger, and leave you stammering that you “didn’t mean it that way.” The ensuing haircut will be extremely short (yikes!), and the time will be extremely awkward.

It’s been years since I’ve had my hair this short. On the upside, it will eventually grow out again.