RSS Feed
An exchange of e-mails regarding the Mustache
By Van on January 31st, 2008
Moustache Rides: Part III is still being worked on, and is in no way reading for the viewing public. Like with all trilogies, the third is usually a letdown, and thus it’s important that I break the mold.
While I work on finishing my masterpiece, I would like to share with you, gentile reader, an e-mail exchange I had with a close friend and colleague. He shall remain nameless as his words will surely bring about resentment and bemusement from fellow moustache aficionados, such as yourself. I will simply refer to him as “Bare-lipped Ruffian.”
To: Van
From: Bare-lipped Ruffian
I am going to play Devil’s advocate here for a minute. This in no way changes the fact that I love both the idea and execution of a mustache. Their are four main things that I see in old pictures that make me think the people in them look like idiots.
In no particular order:
1. Big 80s hair… i.e. perms.
2. 70s clothing…. i.e. leisure suits and bellbottoms
3. Mullets
4. Mustaches
In reference to 4, are you concerned that in 20 years you will be the idiot in the picture? No accusations, and I am not trying to sway anyone, just asking a serious question.
Sincerely,
B.L. Ruffian
——————————————————————————-
Fighting words indeed, no? My retort is as such:
——————————————————————————–
From: Van
To: Bare-lipped Ruffian
B.L., I sincerely thank you for your sincere candor. Here are my thoughts on the issue:
Fashion changes faster than the seasons pass. Take a look at a picture of yourself ten years ago. Pay close attention to the styles that were all the rage. B.L., remember your Ben Franklin hair from 4-5 years ago?? Granted, we all thought that looked great on you; going as far as to style it to an Elvis doo on many a drunk night. But, if you had that style now, it just wouldn’t work. No matter what we wear, or how we style our hair, it’s all going to look foolish in the future. That being said, you might as well enjoy the present.
In your e-mail, you referred to perms, mullets, bell bottoms, and seventies clothing. What do all four of these things have in common? It’s simple. They have all had their fifteen minutes of fame. Sure, they come and go, but their popularity is still in its infancy compared to the grand scheme of things. The mustache can actually be dated back as far as Egyptian times. I’ve attached a picture of a Pazyryk horseman, dating back to 300 B.C. For those of you not up on your mustache history, the Pazyryk were an ancient nomadic people who lived in Siberian Russia, near the borders of China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. They were obviously purveyors of excellent mustaches.
Basically, my take home message is this. Mustaches are not a fad, like the mullet or a leisure suit. True, they are more popular at some times than others, but one thing is for certain. They are timely. They are classic. And above all, they’re going to be around long after we die. And for you to group the mustache with these pathetic passing fancies is ignorant and moreover, blasphemous.
Thank you,
C. Van Allen, Esquire