Don't recall why I grew my first beard - it was 1970 - maybe the thing to do. I was working in New York City. My clients began calling me the "Goy Rabbi." It came to an issue back then and I was fired/asked to leave because just one client complained that I was bearded. Somewhere in there I was looking at myself in the mirror while wearing a shirt in the Royal Stewart tartan and thought how well the beard and the tartan went together.

I kept the beard and was hired bearded every job since. Somewhere in the early 80s I put in for a promotion at work and shaved the beard thinking I'd have a better chance. I didn't get that promotion so grew it back. Bearded again I got lots of promotions. Shows what I know.

Once on a spiritual retreat about 1990 some new age dweeb suggested I was "hiding behind the beard and should shave it off so the World could see the real me. Well, I shaved it off and found myself staring in the mirror at the image of my late father and promptly grew the beard back. The "true me" is bearded - a natural condition. I believe them that scrape off the fur are the ones hiding from their true bearded self.

Okay, a little neck and cheek trimming is okay for a less "wild" look.

Kilts came along over 35 years after the beard. But I'm still struck by how well beards and tartans go together.