I always use to wonder why many of the people I knew who were much older than me wore beards. It seemed that all of my college professors had very distinguishing beards and most of the writers I admired also had either a mustache or a beard and a few had both! I have a younger cousin who has had a long flowing beard for most of his adult life, but I always thought it had more to do with his work. He is a traditional fisherman and most of the time his bread provided him protection from the harsh elements he faced, especially during the winter.

During my college days I tried several times to grow a beard. I even bought some beautiful pipes to go along with my beard. I quite both smoking and trying to grow a beard decades ago. I still have the pipes but the thought of smoking and growing a beard has been a distant memory until recently.

I still have no desire to start smoking again, but the idea of a beard is starting to have an appeal.

After over forty years of daily shaving as a teacher, coach, and school administrator I don't shave on a daily bases any more. When I retired in 2005 I kept my hand in education as a sub for the city's school system and also coached one of the division's high school's girls basketball teams. However, for the past year I have been busy with my mother, buying a new house, spending the summer working on the landscaping, and doing some traveling. It has been busy and I found myself shaving about twice a week instead of daily.

So now I know why many of the older gentlemen decide to grow a bread. They no longer need to impress anyone or met an image of expectation and they don't have to worry about that scurfy stage between the five o'clock shadow and a full beard.

For me it has never been the appearance of the scurfy stage as much as the itching that comes with it. Looks like I will never become one of the bearded ones as after about seven days of growth the itching drives me to my bathroom and out comes the Gillette. Did I ever tell you about Gillette Foam? Guess that's another story, but at least now I have a better understanding why I shave and others do not.

As I write this I rub my chin and I like the feel of a three day growth. It does not itch and there is comfort in my fingers sliding across the stubble that is emerging along my chin. I do know that tomorrow will be the day that I will most likely push the button on the foam, but then again maybe not!