Thank you for that, Zclif, and for stopping by.  Who knows, if you stick with it for another three years you may have a whopping grey beard too

Thank you too, bluebomber!  Idolized?  Wow.  That's quite a compliment.  It's been a great ride and I'm stunned that I've stuck with it so long.  Now I can't imagine me any other way.

Erik, what a pleasure to have you stop by, my friend!  You know what an influence you were on me early on and later as my mentor.  Yes, my wife was the instigator for this whole hairy endeavor and now I don't dare ask if she has any regrets!  Thank you for your kind words.  I just hope I can inspire guys as you did me.

You are never too late, Dirk!  You are so right.  Only bearded guys, and only a fraction of those, truly understand what our beards mean to some of us.  As I just posted in webwzrd's thread, the thought of cutting my beard at this point is akin to cutting of an arm or something.  It just wouldn't be natural.  Yeah, a beard will grow back but the feeling is there, and it's real.  Here's to another year of bearded friendship, my hammer German beardo friend!  It will be even better than last year now that you're on the staff!

It's my pleasure, abertat.  Thank you.  Now that you've made it to a year the next two are easy!  Just let it happen smiley: wink  Your longer beard would look fantastic!

Thank you, Aussiebeard!  Yeah, the world doesn't need to see my naked face, does it  I hope I can be just a little bit as much of an inspiration as I've found from so many of the gentlemen here.

Triibeard, my friend, I would love to meet up again in 2016!  Thank you, and here's wishing you a happier new year than this past one has been.

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As I often do on New Years Eve, I ate and drank far more than I should have.  An old friend from my post-doc years dropped by and we cooked a huge Israeli feast, washed down with copious quantities of fine Washington syrah.  I awoke this morning and, to my great surprise, after just a couple of passes with a comb my beard looked pretty good!  I guess I need to do this more often

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Seeing it this way sealed the deal, so to speak, on not trimming it, too.  When my wife asked if I had any new years resolutions I said 'To grow more beard!'   She just rolled her eyes and smiled smiley: happy

Welcome to 2016, friends!
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