Alarming, Larry?  I just remember seeing your first post and thinking 'Hey, he got my beard' and how perfect I thought it would be in an academic setting.  I agree that my beard looks like me now, and that yours does the same for you.  Maybe our faces were just made to wear bushy grey beards.  Since I made that 3-year post I've thought a lot about it - sometimes putting something in writing makes me 'hear' it differently - and while I did like the look at about 1 year, it was very much a transitional point in my journey, one where I was becoming comfortable, and happy, wearing a lot of hair on my face.  I won't be going back there any time soon, after all.  I hope you're still on the grow-it-out plan too!  I need some company

Chuck, I can hardly wait to see your Santa picture next year!  Thank you!

Thank you for those kind words, metallic1, they really mean a lot.  As I'm sure you well know, with that massive mane of yours, yes, the challenges vary wildly day to day, but no matter the frustration, I always wake up in the morning loving my beard (at least until I look in the mirror ).  Here's to terminal length!  I wonder if it would be worthwhile starting a Beard Theme thread on that.

Thank you, Marty.  The entertainment and enlightenment haven't abated since I started this journey and with guys like you, and this board, I'm sure it will continue!  Happy New Year!

Thank you, JNC.  I'm looking forward to it too.  As for the input on your thread, you're most welcome!  You can always count on me to egg-on another late-starter like me!

What's this, trick?  You have a life outside the board? smiley: ohwell  At the rate you're going you'll be identify-with, and hopefully enjoying as much as I, those 'issues'.  Thank you.

Thank you, SlowyGrowy (you should really consider changing your alias now ) .   The plan, for now, is full beard ahead, but it's nice to know I have styles to fall back on if and when the time comes.  One of the real benefits of this board is the encouragement to document, photographically, beard progression regularly.  I wouldn't have done it otherwise.

Hey, Mike, thank you, sir, and you're welcome!  You know as well as I do that you'll be rocking a similar beard in a few short years   Don't forget to ping me next time you're in the area!

Thank you, Cbeard, and thank you for stopping by!  I'm looking forward to following your beard progress.

Webwzrd, as I mentioned above in my reply to Larry, I've no intention of going back any time soon and your point about regret is a huge and, until now, tacit part of that!  I remember how nervous I was when I got that little trim a few months ago and I could just see myself getting pretty upset if I cut back that much, at least until I've spent plenty of time psyching myself up for it.  Also, I have come to realize that, right now, this beard is 'me', for better or worse.  Thank you for your comments, my friend.  I don' think of myself as brave so much as fortunate, and pig-headed.

I think you'll find that as your beard grows out more, DoNTMOV3, that the issues with eating and drinking don't get any worse, at least for the most part.  Yeah, I have to hold my beard back to keep it out of my plate or bowl, but that's become such a natural reaction now that I don't even think about it.  Thank you for stopping by!  

Cheers, fellas, and Happy New Year one and all!
Tom


Some helpful links:
Library Central of Beard Growing


Taming the Wild Mustache
Tips for eating and drinking with a big mustache

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit. ~ W. Somerset Maugham
A jerk with a beard is just a bearded jerk, but a bearded gentleman is awesomeness personified. ~ Triibeard