Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Yet another reason why Abraham Lincoln was so smart

The title of this essay suggests a nice, dry history lesson, doesn't it?

Well, forget about it.

Today, we're talking facial hair.

I've grown a beard a few times in my life -- and recently did again, while recovering from surgery.

(Every boy ought to have a hobby.)

There's an advantage for a father growing a beard: This is one area where you can still leave your teenage and post-teenage sons in the dust. Either of my two older boys can carry me around the room at this point -- and Middle Son has done so. Recently. So -- physically -- I'm at a disadvantage.

But not so when it comes to facial hair: No, at this point, the best they can venture are little, wispy, caterpillar-like mustaches.

So I've got that going for me.

On the other hand, my beard came in pretty near all white around the muzzle. Just like you'd see on an old dog.

Which explains why I have trouble, so often now, with new tricks.

But -- if you've stayed with me -- you're wondering when I'm going to get to Lincoln.

Look at Lincoln's beard: No mustache. Nothing to trim. Nothing in the way. His beard maximized facial coverage and minimized maintenance. Thus, my point: This is just another illustration of his brilliance.

I'd shave off my mustache tomorrow so that I could get these benefits, too... but I'd never get away with it. Not as a lawyer in Illinois. So the entire beard will have to go... and soon.

Now, excuse me, I'm off to take my vitamin.

5 comments:

Patti said...

This was a fun read. Abe Lincoln was the man.
So, can we all see your beard? A well-cropped photo (below the nose) would retain your anonymity, no?
Empress bee will be pleased to know that you took your vitamin this a.m.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

patti you are correct, i am very pleased!!

and curmy, funny thing i NEVER NOTICED that abe had no stache! now i feel like the idiot i am! how funny. now i am on a mission to find another that does not know this and win a bet! ha ha ha... and i'm with patti, show us a cropped photo!

my daughter spent the week in chicago last week and i begged her to call you. she said she would. she didn't. sigh... oh well, you can lead a girl to an attorney but you can't make her speak, did i get that saying right? she said she was so busy in a conference, duh, how long does a call take? it was to be a grand surprise. drat! foiled again...

smiles, bee

Linda said...

And just another reason why Honest Abe still gets the nod as my very favorite President! The man was not handsome but he had a great sense of humor, was honest to a fault, and had facial hair down to an art!

Alas, I was born in the wrong century ...

Ralph said...

The reason that Abe looked so good is that he had the face for a beard - long, with that pointed chin...and he was tall, a longish beard accented his height...Not having a moustache in an era of moustaches made hi really stand out

SQT said...

My husband likes to grow facial hair when he takes a week or two off work. I love it. I don't know why, I guess it's just something different. It looks good on him too.