Saturday, August 21, 2010

Papa



Ernie wasn't all that old when he checked out. The poor guy looked 100, but was merely 62. I blame the beard.

Since our visit to EPL last weekend I have been, under vigorous protest from Mrs. T, sporting the cool guy 5 day growth with aplomb.



Each time I try this stunt it always sets me back a bit as I realize my beard is white. Since what little hair I have is also white, I'm unsure why this comes as a surprise, yet it always does. Now I too look 100.

So I figure I have 2 choices. The holidays are coming. Maybe, I can find seasonal work at the mall, as Father Christmas, or I can show up in Key West next July for the Hemingway Festival. Either of those choices would entail lawyers, hers and mine.

I'm shaving.

Toad

13 comments:

Blue said...

I too have the same problem. Though my hair, I notice each time I have it cut has kept a surprising amount of color, my beard is almost completely white and the beard I regularly keep, a vandyke, is as purely white as the driven ....

There is a feeling of absolute luxury in not having to shave for a while - often I don't shave on Sunday unless we're going out to dinner then it is done as late as possible.

I can get away with it, in my estimation, when my hair and a full beard are all the same length - number three on a beard trimmer - thus really very short.

old polo said...

I've had a beard for years and watched to go from auburn to salt and pepper to white. Now I have a moustache that is longer than the beard. People don't realize that it takes far more time to groom a beard than to shave. The beard is trimmed almost daily with a 1/8 inch comb while the moustache is combed and waxed. I believe that it adds character to personality

Suburban Princess said...

I can see you with a goatee - but not the full board. Hubby too is sometimes shocked when he realises his beard is white! I am amazed at how fast it went from brown to white...all since I met him. Hmmm.

T said...

It doesn't look that bad-really. Beards can be distinguished-looking if you trim the hedges properly and do your regular maintenance. YOUR problem seems to be that you might risk looking like Richard Dreyfuss in "Jaws..." and is that really worth the risk?

Toad said...

My grandfather had a saying which has stayed with me all my life, and still invokes a strong influence over me.

He believed, "he was any man's equal, after he shaved."

I face that every day of my life.

J.P. said...

I think the beard looks sharp. Think "The Most Interesting Man in the World" commercials.

Mistress Cynica said...

For unknown reason, I was terrified of men with facial hair when I was a child and I still don't care for it. However, my lovely husband will soon be sporting a beard--it's a tradition during Crush (harvest in the wine country), mostly because winery workers are way too tired to shave when working 18-20 hour days. He's a little depressed every year by how much more grey there is.

Mrs. Blandings said...

You don't look anywhere near 100. But beards are itchy.

Toad said...

So I shaved the beard, but kept the 'stash.

Then I hit the shower, ratiocination set in, and swiped that off too.

Anonymous said...

You are a young man with beautiful skin and kiss-me cheeks, but one day farrrr into the future everything will begin to go south and that's when to get that beard back up and running. I would love to be able to grow a face and neck mask of hair right about now. Off to dictionary to check out your vocabulary word for the day.

Nutbird said...

There is no such thing as a cool 5 day growth. Also, I don't think beards go with seersucker jackets. I happen to believe that facial hair is for insecure people. Ann

Toad said...

Ann, on a similar vein, I suspect that by the time one is my age, they know if they want a beard or not, and have decided long ago.

To my minds eye, Ed Hermann's 'stash in the last years of the Gilmore Girls was not an attraction

bella said...

I love beards when they are done right. Specifically this one: http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:tHdc2e1WLbEpSM:http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/39880675/Sting+with+a+beard.jpg&t=1

I say do it! Every man should sport a beard at least once in his life. =)