I grew some facial hair. Last year I grew it from September 19-November 25th in memory of my father. This year I began on the same date because I thought it was a good tradition and I wanted it for my Halloween costume. I was going to keep the facial hair until closer to the end of the month, like I did last year. But, my kids have been bugging me about having a beard. Like really mean about it.

Not only teasing and being downright nasty to me, but the other day, my son asked me a poignant question regarding my beard- “If you don’t have a lot of good memories of your father, why do you want to look like him?”

Ouch.

He was right. And I don’t want to be like my father. So off came the beard today.

I also went for my quarterly haircut this afternoon. I look very different now than I did waking up. Back to the “Old Joe” I guess. So instead of my beard- the kids can make fun of my receding hairline instead.

Win-win?