Novembeard.

Today is a sad day. It’s December 1^st, which means the great month of Novembeard has come to an end. Novembeard is the month where any and all facial hair is worn without condemnation. It is a time when men can dream about what could be and have the freedom to just go for it. It is a time where manliness is at an all time high and where mouths everywhere get a little bit warmer due to the growth of their lip blankets.

Over the past three years Novembeard has come a callin’ and I have faithfully answered (and I say three years because that is when I was able to really start sprouting the good stuff). This year has been one for the record books. Mustacheo was out with a vengeance this year. He came to fight crime and protect the integrity of facial hair.

There were four of us at the ESBS who took full advantage of the Novembeard freedom and I think that it brought us closer together as a unit. We laughed and celebrated the good times, but also consoled one another when the time came to say goodbye. Some of us struggled letting go more than others … I don’t know if I should admit this, but I had attachment issues to my flavor saver.

For me it was a process to let go. I had to watch an instructional video (How To Kill a Mustache). I had to be reminded that this was a good thing. This was an actual conversation I had with fellow staff member and Novembeard connoisseur:

(10:35 am) Me: I can’t do it … I can’t shave it off

(10:35 am) Caleb: Keep it

(10:36 am) Me: But I am ready to shave … I just don’t want to hurt him

(10:37 am) Caleb: He will not be dead … just sleeping awaiting the next call to the battlefront.

(10:37 am) Me: There are going to be tears

(10:38 am) Caleb: Yeah … but the ladies will get over it.

(10:47 am) Me: It gone

(10:48 am) Caleb: R.I.P.

It was fun while it lasted and I have returned to looking 17 again. I feel like I have lost respect in the mountain man community for letting a good man go, but the time will come to call Mustacheo back from the depths to return to greatness.

Here are pictures to remember the good times. 

Out looking for crime and solving cases