The Gabby Hayes Look

Fandango

I first grew my beard back in 1975 when I was in graduate school and virtually locked myself away in the university’s math library for two weeks preparing to take the comprehensive exam for my master’s degree. But once the comps were over, I liked the way I looked with my two-week old growth and decided to keep my beard.

That was 48 years ago. Other than when I shaved my beard off to surprise my wife, who had never seen me clean shaven, I’ve always had a beard. Incidentally, as soon as my wife saw me without my beard, she commanded me to grow it back.

I’ve always kept my beard neatly trimmed. Partially because the companies I worked for were conservative and I didn’t think a ZZ Top-like beard would have been tolerated. But my neatly trimmed beard was okay.

ZZ Top

I have typically trimmed my beard weekly since I grew it back in ‘75, but it’s been a month since my hip replacement surgery and I have been unable to trim it since the week before I busted my hip. What has turned out to be a fractured humerus in my right arm makes it too painful for me to use my beard trimmer. Hence, my normally neatly trimmed beard is growing out and making me look like Gabby Hayes.

During a family text chat yesterday I told my kids that I was beginning to look like Gabby Hayes. My 43 year old daughter texted, “Like who?” My 40 year old son texted, “Don’t know who that is.”

“Gabby Hayes,” I texted back. “He was an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in Western films as the bewhiskered, cantankerous, but ever-loyal and brave comic sidekick of cowboy stars like Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers, John Wayne, and others.” Then I sent them this picture of Gabby.

“When did he die?” My daughter texted. My son texted, “I just Googled him. He died in 1969, thirteen years before I was born.”

“Okay, fine,” I texted back. Then I sent this photo below and said, “Can you relate now?”

20 thoughts on “The Gabby Hayes Look”

  3. newepicauthor February 11, 2023 / 7:02 am

    Have your kids ever seen you wearing that bag over your head?

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Ron. February 11, 2023 / 8:07 am

    My current beard is celebrating its 53rd year on my face. I you don’t count the 1-year beardless hiatus I had back around 1970, I’ve been hair-faced since 1968.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Fandango February 11, 2023 / 9:46 am

      Your beard has an even longer tenure than mine. Good for you!

      Like

  6. rugby843 February 11, 2023 / 9:34 am

    I started laughing reading Gabby Hayes as I doubt anyone on the blogs knows of him.  But I’m so glad you are taking a sense of humor and running with it.  My experience is that it helps a great deal.  Maybe go for the ZZ Top look?😂

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

    Liked by 2 people

    • jilldennison February 11, 2023 / 8:05 pm

      Oh, I well remember Gabby Hayes!!!! Wouldn’t have been able to identify ZZ Top though … not my genre!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. ghostmmnc February 11, 2023 / 9:35 am

    I remember Gabby Hayes from the TV shows. I mostly watched westerns because I liked seeing the horses galloping around. haha 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Marilyn Armstrong February 11, 2023 / 10:46 am

    The shaggy look is very “in” right now, so think of yourself as fashionable rather than fractured.

    These days, a lot of the time we mention names everyone used to know and no one under 50 recognizes. It’s a bit daunting.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. jilldennison February 11, 2023 / 8:06 pm

    You should have posted a pic of you with your new “wild man” look!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Nope, Not Pam February 12, 2023 / 12:39 am

    🤣 that made me laugh

    Liked by 1 person

  13. leigha66 February 12, 2023 / 1:29 pm

    Although my folks never did watch much for westerns, I still know who Gabby was. Maybe you will decide you like a little more wild look, or you could always braid your beard. Ha, ha, ha!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Fandango February 12, 2023 / 8:58 pm

      I think I’ll pass up your braiding my beard suggestion! 😂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Kaye Spencer February 12, 2023 / 6:50 pm

    HAHAHA This is great. I know who Gabby Hayes is, and I also know ZZ Top. My grown children (in their 40s) and my two oldest grandchildren (26 & 18) know ZZ Top, but not Gabby Hayes.

    Liked by 1 person

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