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Thursday, November 1, 2012

Sometimes

Day 1

I’ve never had a moustache. Unless you count the goatee I sported for a few years. Early on in that questionable experiment someone told me it looked like a gopher was trying to swallow my mouth. I decided to buy some grooming equipment after that.

And I grew a patchy beard one December while I was in University to protest exams. It didn’t have any effect. And for about a month I had a small soul patch. But I wasn’t cool enough to pull that off. Mostly I’ve been clean-shaven my whole life.

Not this month though. It’s Movember, the month devoted to all things facial hair to bring awareness, discussion and support to men’s physical and mental health issues.

My first experience with facial hair and men’s health was my Dad. The guy probably had sideburns when he was thirteen. But he ignored his health. Religiously. Over the course of his life he avoided the doctor whether he nearly sliced his thumb off or crushed his toes flat. He would have thought Movember was for ding-dongs. It caught up with him though. If he had lived longer, I think he would have changed his mind. I’d like to imagine him growing his beard with me this month. And that, I think, might be the real point of Movember.

Guys: it’s true we all respect the women’s health movement. We embrace the pink campaign with our dearest daughters and wives and aunts and mothers and sisters and grandmothers. And guys: it’s true we may feel too uncomfortable with vulnerability to really feel worthy of a month focused on us and our health. But that seems like a missed opportunity for solidarity and friendship with each other because let’s face it: we shouldn’t feel alone in this. Sometimes only another guy can really understand.

To be honest though, I’m not growing my beard this month for all men. Sorry. It’s just for one man this time actually. A really good man. A good man with cancer.

I don't know what else to say about that. The beard will have to speak for me because sometimes there are just no words. 

15 comments:

Alistair said...

A month probably isn't long enough for me to grow a beard regardless of how good the cause.

But this month I'm doing my bit for this man's health by completing his bi-annual bowel screening test kit.

YUK!

but in a good way........

Vinny C said...

Good for you! My wife still refuses to accept a return of the mustache (odd when you consider I had one when she met me).

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Way to go, dbs! You may surprise yourself and look like a lumberjack by the end of the month.

Claire Beynon said...

dbs, I love the way you come to things, the way you find new ways of saying the things that need & want to be said even when there are no words. True and tender nitty-gritty. You and your blog are something pretty special.

wendy said...

You got that right...sometimes there are JUST NO WORDS.
Sorry about your friend. I have an uncle with cancer right now, who is "counting down" basically as the dr. only gave me a few months.

but, on a lighter note. Since I can't grow a beard for you guys...what about underarm hair???

ha ha ha..
and I agree with Claire...you and your blog are pretty special.

wendy said...

oops that was a typ-o
NOT ME (a few months)
gave HIM a few months

t i m said...

You do it for him, that's great.

I'm the type who has grown facial since I was 18, so this month is no different in that regard,

Ideally I wish I was one of those people who couldn't grown a beard or even a soul-patch if they tried. :)

Sultan said...

Nicely expressed.

Antares Cryptos said...

A month of listening to bad interpretations of Freddy Mercury.

And sigh...

CLR said...

Very very cool, and I send hope and thoughts your way for your friend. Also cool to get to see THE dbs!

neal call said...

Addison called my soul patch my "little beard." It's her favorite part. And the thing is equally everyone else's least favorite part. I shave it off at least once a month, but I always grow it back, because my little girl misses it.

Chelle said...

It's the moooost wonderful tiiiiime of the year!! I love the goofy movember moustaches. Way to go, you!

michael.offworld said...

Yup.

Jo said...

David if I could grow a beard I would for the same great man.

DB Stewart said...

Thanks Jo. I know you would.

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