There is something freeing about letting my facial hair grow like a field of wheat…Yes, the beard is back. I’ve decided I like the lower part of my face covered with fur; I always have, actually, and even in my clean shaven days I usually only shaved two or three times a week. My wife Jules is not fond of the beard; I’m hoping she’ll adjust in time. I quote the old line to her about how many women love to go through the woods to get to the picnic, and she rolls her eyes. My beard is rather gray – even white – at this point, and a couple of students have called me Santa Claus, as well as Grizzly Adams. One student said he admired my “Man Beard,” which seems rather redundant; if there are women around with beards, I don’t want to see them. The philosopher Epictetus said a beard is the natural condition of a man and men shave their faces to look more like women. I think he was onto something. Plus, shaving is a pain. While I may compromise with my wife and dye the beard so it’s a bit darker, I don’t see shaving again – ever.