I'll Be Doggone! Darrell Turns Forty-One!!

Friday; Around Grumpy's Castle --

Well, it finally happened; Darrell, our "baby boy" finally reached the "ripe old age" of forty-one! Grumpy told him that he was now "over the hill", but Darrell argued, "No! That'll be when I turn fifty!" I guess it all depends on one's perspective, doesn't it? Maybe we are only old if we think we are; now that's a good thought!

One of Darrell's distinguishing features these past few months has been his black, bushy beard. He began growing it last Fall sometime and, to his Mother's great chagrin, chose to not even trim it.  At first he complained that his electric shaver didn't do a proper job. So Mother bought him a brand new one and Grumpy offered to trim his beard with the hair clippers, down to a length where the shaver could take over. But Darrell declined; besides, he said it kept him warm. Well, you shouldn't be surprised; with that tightly curly beard, it became more like a thick woolen coat over his neck and half of his face.

Finally yesterday, after his birthday lunch at his favorite Chinese Restaurant, and dessert at the local Baskins & Robbins, where Darrell requested a double ice-cream cone (think bits of ice cream in that beard all around his mouth!), we came home and Darrell asked Grumpy to begin "the process". Now Grumpy used to cut Darrell's hair from the time of his first hair cut up until he was about 6 or 8 years old when he accompanied me to my barber. After cutting my hair, the barber suggested that Darrell climb into the chair -- it was obvious that he needed a haircut as well. Grumpy objected, offering that Darrell's tightly curly hair was hard to cut. The white barber boasted that he "knew how to cut Black hair -- no problem!" Well, Grumpy should have known better, but he allowed this barber to try to cut Darrell's hair. The result: It looked awful!! Darrell was understandably embarrassed and from that day on, would not even allow Grumpy  to cut his hair any more.

But on Friday he finally wanted his beard cut and bravely allowed Grumpy to do it. The result was a much more groomed appearance as the accompanying photo shows. Darrell looked at himself in the mirror and agreed that it looked pretty good. Grumpy reminded him that he had always cut Darrell's hair until that disastrous job by the boastful barber.

Grumpy thought the trimmed beard looked fine. But Darrell would not let Grumpy stop there; he wanted it all off! So Grumpy proceeded, carefully avoiding pulling too hard on the tangled curls or nipping the tender skin under Darrell's chin. At last the youthful face we have known so well emerged!

Now Grumpy and the Grand Mother had expected that the shaver would be next, to remove the "five o'clock shadow". But, NO, Darrell insisted that it was now just the way he wanted it. At least now Darrell looked much younger. In fact, one of his teammates' Moms on his soccer team told him he looked like he was "in his 20's"! Grumpy agrees.