Finalement.

So it has ended.  The beard off is over.  As I shaved off the whiskers that kept my face warm and added beauty to the empty canvas that once was my face, I felt a distinct sadness.  Not the kind of sadness when you see a puppy with one of those cones on its head, but rather, the sadness I imagine a mother feels when her child leaves for his first day of school.  Its the sadness of loss, of loneliness, but also, the anticipation of return, when the child steps off the bus and smiles.  Ladies and Beards, I vow today, that this becomes an annual event.  Like the inevitability of the next full moon, our beards will serve as a beacon of light to unite us, regardless of where we end up.

I included the images in this post to serve as a reminder of the happiness that beards bring to everyone.  In my bald-faced frown-faced photo, it is clear that I have either read one too many MGPs or have suffered in the emasculating blow of the razor.  In the smiling happy photo, Lyndsi and I are cleary ecstatic because of my beardage, not because WMU was beating EMU mercilessly.  

Friends, beards are the future of the face, and just like Sarah Palin said, "only Mavericks wear badass beards."  Its been a fun four weeks, watching everyone grow.  One of my fondest memories of the beard off was when Chrisman posted his before photos and I didn't recognize him.  Rustache, you crack me up.  Prof T, what can I say man, you are the Dr.  The Swan, you're the Swan and a damn good George Michael impersonator!  The Danimal, you've officially become bearded Dan.  Owen, you gave it your best shot...  Horse Whisperer, your beard was epic, but I still love your emo horse folders.

Go beards!