Just about four years ago we brought you home from the hospital.

A few days ago we celebrated your fourth birthday.

I’ve learned so much about the world because of you. You’ve gone from being a bright-eyed little baby to somebody with a mind all her own. I love your sense of humour, the little jokes you make and the way you like to laugh about things. Your fearlessness going down the big slides is a source of pride to me. When you ask about giving half your birthday money to your brother, I envy your big heart. The fact that my kisses still make your scraped knees feel better melts my heart. Happy birthday to “daddy’s little girl.”

So after seeing my face sans beard for the first time in five or six years I knew it was time for the moustache to come off as well. No one I currently hang out with, including my wife, has seen me without a moustache. The only person reading this, who might remember, would be the blogger known as “vegan chai“.

I’ve had a moustache ever since high school so I am still a little spooked when I see myself in a mirror.

A few responses to the commenters from the previous shaving entry.

Q. Was this on purpose? (Pearl)

A. I did this on purpose. I planned it out in advance and checked with all the people in my life who kiss me. Now that I write that, I realize that I didn’t check with my wife’s grandmother. I assume since she made it through the depression and WWII she’ll weather this change just fine.

Q. Was this because of the goat comment? (anonymous)

A. No.

Q. Why did you do it?

A. Cry for help, like everything else.

Q. Seriously why did you do it?

A. Not quite sure, it just felt like the right time.

Q. You did it to get attention right?

A. O.K. but didn’t I already say it was a cry for help?

Q. They say men with beards are hiding something — what were you hiding?

A. Traditionally men are hiding fat jowls & receding hairlines — obviously those couldn’t apply to me

The best reaction after shaving just the beard and leaving the moustache was from my favorite co-worker who screamed and said, “You grew a moustache.”

I also enjoyed my daughter telling me the next day, “Put your beard back on.” It was as if she thought I had sent my beard out for drycleaning or left it hanging in the closet.