It’s probably never been said that Google reviews actually give insight into the individual.  In the case of my friend Tim Long, also known as “Tim the Barber of Harwich Port,” there is some truth to them.

“Called Tim’s barber and asked what the wait was and he’s said I can’t predict the future and hung up on me.”

Most of the reviewers, however, got it wrong. The reviews, funny if you know Tim, tend to focus on the reviewers themselves, missing what really mattered: Tim’s attention to us, his customers.

At a barbershop like Tim’s, you don’t call to schedule an appointment. If you prefer scheduled times, consider looking for a stylist instead.

At a barbershop, you simply show up, read the paper, and wait for your turn. If you see too many cars in the parking lot, just come back later—no need to call ahead.

When you come for a cut at Tim’s Barbershop, expect Fox News to be on the TV and keep the remote away from your kid—changing the channel is not barbershop etiquette.

Do not call the barbershop. Tim was working, and as someone who waited their turn, I want him focused on haircuts, not phone calls. Barbershop etiquette is simple: show up and wait your turn.

If you were interesting, Tim would talk to you. If Tim didn’t say much, it could have been because it was just another long day. It also could have been because you are not interesting. You probably need to do something about that.

For those who say Tim was grumpy, I would like to offer this. When I was new to the Tim the Barber experience, I once spilled my entire coffee in his waiting area, apologized profusely, and tried to clean it up, but he couldn’t have cared less. I suppose what I did do was apologize for being a mess and try to clean it up.

Here is a description of the Tim the Barber I knew

He loved cars, and I did too…so we talked a lot.

I didn’t know as much about MGBs, so he was always giving me advice.

There are a lot of women in the Harwich Port area whose elderly husbands had dementia. They would bring their husbands to Tim’s shop, and he would tell them to run their errands while he watched over the husbands while the wives were gone. I saw this countless times, and he did it for my mom. The wives’ appreciation was profound.

He loved an adventure – out on his boat or driving to Canada in his Corvette.

My dad sent me to Tim and brought my son there. Tim and my son James formed an incredible bond…mostly because of their mutual love of cars and my lack of automotive knowledge. James would bring his latest exotic by the shop when he was around (or tales of such if the exotic was in Beverly Hills) and – well – I hope you were not next in line…because it was going to be a while. James would declare that visits to Tim’s were “donut days,” and he would buy a dozen and a gallon of coffee from DD in Harwich Port. The old guys waiting looked confused but appreciative. One time, James was in from LA and “borrowed” an Audi EV from Chatham Bars, and he and Tim ripped around HP in it, while I babysat the shop.

The end is never pretty. Tim passed three months before James did. Almost like they had a car to restore, and so they just had to get moving. I knew Tim was not doing all that well, and we would sort of cry after each haircut. I did not know he and James had plans. I sort of felt bad for the guys behind me in the haircut line during those days, because Tim cut every single hair slowly, just so we could catch up.

I haven’t been able to locate my Google Review of Tim’s Barbershop. I suppose since it is still live, I might write another, but it did contain a lot of this content. Maybe somebody should write an article on how men should behave in a barbershop – but until then, don’t f-ing call. Just show up.

Jake Rooney’s in Harwich Port did a nice tribute to Tim and has his sign.

His brother, Todd Long, is raising funds for a memorial.

You can also visit Tim’s Bench and James’ at Cold Brook Preserve in Harwich Port, a place to reflect and remember them both.