I've worn a beard since 1971, which fact once caused a student to observe, "Your beard is older than I am".Thanks, I thought. I shave a razor-width between sidetap and 'stache every day to pretend I'm groomed, but I'm probably the only one who notices. It also reminds me of a friend's father, a fine old Dane, who passed before I could get to know him better, and who razored the same vertical space.