I had not shaved since either late June or early July. Right around when I started getting into Burt’s Bees and put Pencil Revolution on indefinite hiatus. Started packing to move. Was still enjoying the peaceful bike-rides that Carbondale afforded. When we moved away from the Dale in August, I was already sporting a thick beard. I never shaved in my current apartment yet, despite being here for nearly five months. Considering that I have to start job hunting this spring/summer and that I should probably be clean-cut for job interviews, everyone knew I could not keep the beard for too long. My brother’s soon-to-wife was nervous that I would have beard to my knees for their June 22nd wedding, helped by my constantly telling everyone that I would shave my beard on June 23rd. Sharp.
People used to ask me, “How can you stand it?” “Because I’m manly as shit.” Seriously, though, growing a beard is much more than being able to physically get dense, inches-long hair to grow out of your face and neck. It’s a lot to put up with, and it takes patience to push it under your pillow when you turn over in your sleep, patience to dry it after a shower, patience when elderly people eye your suspiciously or even get startled by your appearance.
Everyone has their limit, and I turned into an impatient sissy Thursday. I had a dream that I had no more beard, and I liked the feeling. I thought about it a lot, finished my work early and went to town on the hair. The beard actually came off in less than a minute because I have a nice set of barber-type clippers from Wahl. What was left of my rough manliness killed two razor blades. And I got to use my new Burt’s Bees shaving kit, Bay Rum and all. I got it off quickly enough that I actually have it still. The beard. Yeah, gross, I know. If it can be made into little braids, I think I might send them to people as a joke. Maybe. That might be too gross even for me.
I have a wedding party to go to today, so I thought it might be nice to not have to sit through everyone tell me that I look like a terrorist, John Brown, Cat Stevens, etc. A dozen people last night told, “You look good without a beard, you really do.” What the hell? How bad did my beard look?
Also for Photo Friday: Fuzzy.
Tags: beard, cat stevens, fuzzy, john brown, photofriday
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January 13, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Sarah
It must be “National Shave Off Your Beard Month”. As you know, many philosophers sport beards. Many of the philosophers in my department have had fantastic beards, either for years, or they started them when they moved to Michigan. But, several of them have started shaving them off. Those that have not yet shaved them off, ponder shaving them off fairly frequently. It seems there is a “mass beard exodus” of sorts. It seems rather counter-intuitive, as my understanding is that the beard helps to keep one’s face warmer. (I’m quite jealous of this.) I have to admit that this winter has been rather crazy and warm (50 degrees in the last few days), but it is apparently supposed to get colder… and then, all of these boys will have cold faces.
From the looks of that picture, however, I think you have made a good decision. That’s an uber-crazy beard. You can always start growing it again- or so they tell me.
*really jealous of my lack of ability to grow fantastic facial hair*
*not jealous enough to start the hormones*
January 13, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Johnny
My face is MAD cold now:) I think when it gets cold here after Monday, I’m going to regret this. The day I shaved it was cold, and I was shaking the whole way!
January 14, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Sarah
Maybe invest in a ski mask?
Although, oddly enough, that may make you look even more threatening than the beard did.
January 14, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Johnny
That might work. But my stubble works like velcro on my scarves, so I think I might get stuck in one of those masks, lmao. My now I feel a very strong need to get one, if just to take some photos:)