The End-of-Playoff Beard

So it's finally over. Not the democratic nomination, although there is some relief that the D's have finally stopped attacking each other and emptying the coffers in friendly fire. No, I'm talking about something much more important.
The NHL Playoffs.
While it may seem to some that these playoffs last nearly an entire election cycle, it's all too brief for me. Why, I hardly had time to get up to Chewbacca stage in the playoff beard growth, while in my heart of hearts I would like to get to ZZ top. And it doesn't look like Kris has even been trying!
With the dusting off of the razor, we acknowledge the much more experienced Red Wings for their dominance, and try not to be too condescending to the penguins by saying, nice try, maybe when you boys are a little older...
I confess that there is another reason for shaving. This is much more vain.
I didn't mind too much when it was pointed out that this year, at 35, I would be in a different demographic -- still pretty young. I even managed a chuckle when the hairdresser laughed at my scalp, saying "it just gets thinner and thinner." Why, I'm actually proud of the grey in my hair.
But not my beard.
When Kris reached over and was playing with a white hair in my beard, I knew that the days of Grizzly Mannix were numbered. It's not that it looks old, just...well, maybe a little old. A little untidy. It just doesn't reflect the way I think I look, which is about 25.
I know the feeling young won't last, but for just a little while longer, let me think that I'm more like the Pittsburgh Penguins, and a little less experienced than the Red Wings.