R.I.P. Cliff Johnson's Beard (1978-2008)

On Sunday, January 13th, my uncle Cliff Johnson's beard tragically passed away at the age of 30.

I admired the beard for years, aspiring to reach that level of greatness. It was rugged. Not ZZ-Top-esque. It showed discipline, poise and pure American craftsmanship.

It was the type of beard that hid cracker crumbs, drink mustaches and various types of debris that we beard enthusiasts encounter on a daily basis. The beard never backed down, it never faltered.

It selflessly gave its life on Sunday to fulfill a dream by my uncle's daughter. While the move was controversial, some believe it was for the greater good.

So I ask you beards, everywhere, when you feel a new hair bursting from your pore, feeling its first breath of life, smile. The circle of life has taken another turn. One beard is gone from us, but from that, new life.

R.I.P. Cliff's Beard
Never forget 1-13-08