One day, about 5 years ago, I was about to rest my chin in my hand and Ouch!

What was that?

I got up and peered at my face in the mirror. I didn’t see anything but the same face. Weird.

Sat back down on the couch and then I ran my fingers along my chin. Ouch!

What IS that?

I got up again and stood closer to the mirror to look at my chin. Huh. Same face. Weird.

Finally, I put my glasses on and looked one more time.

YIKES!!

What IS that poky thing sticking an inch out of my chin? I think I would have noticed landing face first in a bed of cactus, don’t you?

I gently tried wiping it off my chin. Still there.

I tugged gently on it, because after all, maybe I did fall face first in a batch of cactus and just now noticed. Lots of alcohol must have been involved, but I suppose it could have been a possibility. Still there.

What in the world?

I got my tweezers out to pull this odd splinter out of my chin. I tugged. It didn’t budge. I pulled harder. Still there. I grabbed hold and yanked!

Out. Finally.

What IS that?

Wait for it….wait for it… (not quite as bad as Marmaduke, but still)

A WHISKER?!

What? A whisker? How did I get one of those? And WHY didn’t my husband or best friend TELL me I was growing a beard? Huh?

Trust me, I gave them both a piece of my mind for that one. By the way, nothing sexier than pointing out to your husband that you are growing facial hair!

My best friend told me (after laughing hysterically at me) that a woman gets whiskers after being pregnant with boys. One boy = 1 whisker. Thank goodness I’m not Mrs. Duggar. I’d have a full goatee!

Alright. It’s taken me time, but I’ve finally come to grips with “Fred”. Yep, all random hairs are named Fred for some reason…. totally different and long story.

“Fred” (my whisker) is akin to that family member that you don’t particularly like, but they keep showing up anyway. You know who I’m talking about?

I don’t know how he does it either. I think I”m pretty paranoid diligent about keeping a lookout for Fred, but one day I’ll find he’s back and he’s already 1/2 an inch long!

Do whiskers have super growth hormone or something? One day you don’t see them, the next they are all grown up? That doesn’t seem to be how hubby’s beard works.

I’ve seriously considered going to a laser hair removal place, but I haven’t figured out how to put up with a whisker long enough to drive myself over to someplace and have it zapped. Plus, would it hurt?

Guest blogger Daria works full-time at a consulting firm near Invesco Field and lives in Arvada, CO with her husband and their 3 children. She writes about leadership and management of both employees and family on her blog Mom In Management and about interior design and remodeling on her husband’s remodeling business website Simply Stunning, LLC. Go ahead and keep up with Daria’s posts by following her on twitter or facebook.

Photo: Indiana Public Media