End of the Beard

A year ago I traveled to Belgium, leaving behind a clean-shaven husband itching to try his hand at growing a beard. I knew when I kissed him goodbye there was a good chance I would not see his jawline when I returned home. I didn't know how well it would grow in. We posed for this picture, which I used as my phone cover. When I came home, he had the makings of a full beard and mustache.

This was his first beard. There were times over the decades he tried growing a mustache. He used to work for a company that had nothing against mustaches, but they must be past the scruffy starter stage and look nice. Something he could not accomplish in a one week vacation. This was the same company that insisted they dress like IBM employees -- white dress shirts, dark suits, a tie, wingtip shoes, and dark dress socks. Women had a similar dress code. When I need a reminder of how he dressed for work, I look at old Friends episodes and see Ross and Chandler wearing ties when they go to the office. EDS was even more strict than that.

The beard lasted nearly a year. It never grew on me, and Don knew it. He also
knows I will never tell him what to do with his hair because I don't ever want to be told what to do with mine. (Currently I'm growing out the coloring because I grew tired of the expense, and because I don't know what I want to do. This picture was taken not long after I lost colored it.)

Friday night I came home from digging at Fort Mifflin. We were meeting a friend for dinner. I complimented him on his haircut. I noticed he wasn't wearing glasses. We went out. I talked to him. I looked at him. It wasn't until I went to bed that I realized he shaved his beard off. The Don I fell in love with is back!

The next day a coworker noticed immediately. Someone else said he looks better (thank you!). No one at church commented. 

Don said he wanted to shave it before he gets a summer tan. I'll take it.

UPDATE: it has amused us to see who notices and how quickly. Yesterday was Easter, no one in the family noticed. Is it because he looks the way they think of him looking? As opposed to co-workers who clued in immediately.