Good-Bye Old Friend

I shaved off my beard last night.

It was time for a change. I had this beard since November. It started as me forgetting my razor when going to Detroit for Thanksgiving, and under the encouragement of my girlfriend at the time, I kept growing it out (as she was the first girlfriend who actually liked it when I didn’t shave).  The first few weeks were tough, as I was at the in between stages: more than just a day or so’s scruff, but not yet a full beard. It wasn’t pretty.

But, soldiering on, things started to turn around. One day I realized I finally didn’t look that bad, as things at last started to fill in a bit. I had thoughts of getting rid of it sooner, but with the NHL playoffs starting and the Red Wings going all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, I had to keep it.

Now that the playoffs are over, I decided I needed to shake things up a bit. Reasons included me still being unsure I looked that good with it, the warmer weather and not being with the person I grew it for in the first place any more.

Even though I enjoyed not having to shave every day (I hate shaving), I was getting tired of beard maintenance and the increasing heat was a big factor too. The problem now though, is that I’m already missing it.  I’ve become so accustomed to it, that seeing my chin and face for the first time since November is down-right weird.

I’ll get used to it though. I certainly look younger without it, which is nice. But on the flip side, I did like that ‘sophisticated’ look the beard gave me (according to some).

So long old friend, it was fun while it lasted. Who knows? Maybe we’ll have a reunion during my next camping trip.