Fear the Beard

The night before the Cardinals first playoff game, we were having a discussion in the Blood household and Tom Jr. challenged me to grow a beard. He said he would have a whole new level of respect for me if I did. The next morning, I decided to follow the route that many baseball players take and not shave until their team was finished for the year. So the beard growing began.

This is not my first beard. From about age 19 through 30, I used to grow one every fall and shave it every spring. But now that I’m older, the beard certainly helps demonstrate that fact. It’s more gray than any other color. I look at my present day photo and wonder, “What in the world happened to me?”, and “Where did my hair go?” and “Is this really worth keeping?” The answers are: advertising will age anyone; be glad you still have any left at all; and, no it’s not.

My wife and I have tickets to Game 7 (if there is one). Win or lose, this beard will be gone by Monday. So I thought I’d share a look at me, from my mid-20s and current day. Fear the Beard? Yes, I do – because if I ever would grow another one, I’m quite sure it would be completely gray. As for Tom Jr. having a whole new level of respect for me … uh, no.

Go Cardinals!

The beard in its older days.

The beard in its younger days.