“He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man”

-- William Shakespeare

Do you think Shakespeare had a non-beard phase in his life? That phase where he was less than a man? I go back and forth on his manliness. In some ways he seems overly so, and charmingly so, and in some other almost pansy, but perhaps in a good way!

Every man in my life seems to go through the beard phase-- something of an external statement of an internal state of mind. It’s quite thrilling to be a part of the whole cycle.

First there is his nonchalant before stage, which is usually when you get on well; his casual indifference is appealing and desirable. This is where you share good times.

Then there is the crisis stage -- the defining moment before an important decision needs to be made. In a bullfight, this may be when the bull is about to be killed with the final blow. Somehow, with my male friends (the matadors in the metaphor, not the bulls!) the result of this intense emotional experience is characterized by the growing of the beard! Of course, some of them actually find this stage in their life amusing...you can tell from their aura of contentment... it's almost like they found a peaceful nonviolent way of dealing with dilemmas.

If you haven’t been through this stage with them, please note carefully - this is a delicate moment. This is also when you define your expected function in this experience. You are either about to drift away from what you thought was a lifelong relationship, or get up-close and intimate (not necessarily physically of course!)

The final stage is the metamorphosis. If you are lucky, the caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Once in a while, the tadpole turns into a frog and that’s just too bad... But, I have come to realize somehow that my bearded male friends are usually endearing through all three phases.

Living through someone’s change is heartening and perhaps in the end when all goes well, elevating even. You don’t want them to have to go through a rough time, but rough times are not always undesirable, especially when you are able to look back at them and see how they (and to a lesser extent you) have grown from the experience.

Here’s to the bearded friends I love… especially those in phase 2! There's a phase 3 coming, and if I look too excited during your whiskers and fuzz phase, it is in the anticipation of the insect you are about to become - the one with the brightly colored wings and knobbed antennae. :D

I am back! My absence from my blog has made me realize that it is only I who has to lose from abstaining from things that give me pleasure. Funny how I should begin with a post on beards though! You can say I went through my own beard phase with my blog. But in my case, the frog turned into a princess, with some help! :) Miss me?