On My Birthday

[Obie]

Ladies and gentlemen:

Today is my birthday. I am 27 years old. I have been 27 for many decades.

I began to shave with the straight razor late in life, concluding that anytime is a good time to fulfill youth's dream. I wanted to shave with the straight razor many decades ago, but, as I have written here, life has a way of getting in the way. Mine did.

So here I am, on my birthday, at a late 27, with a modest collection of 20 straight razors, one of which, a gorgeous little 4/8" Wostenholm hollow point, I use for traveling.

I like all my razors. Some I love: the Filarmonic 13 Doble Temple, the Wacker 6/8" 1st Edition Sheffield steel with bone handle, and the 6/8" Revisor muted spike. The Thiers-Issards, however, outnumber all the other brands.

Yet, for me, shaving with the straight is less about having a large collection and more about the pleasure of shaving. I would be satisfied with just one razor, as long as I can lather up every morning and listen to the dialogue of the blade and my face.

No, a baby-bottom-smooth face is not my ultimate goal. The pleasure of the shave is what matters: the making of lather, the adventure of stropping, the feel of a great razor in my hands, and the final delight of applying aftershave. Life is full of sweet moments. That morning shave with the straight razor is one in a string of sweet moments in my day.

I shave every day. Of course, I must because of a heavy beard. Yet, if I had a light beard, I still would shave every day — as long as I can enjoy the ritual of wet shaving with the straight razor.

This morning, on my birthday, I lathered up with Castle Forbes, a 24 mm. Thater silver tip, and shaved with the 1/4 hollow Le Grelot. I had a great shave. Not, not because of the products I used; rather, it was because I did something l love today to celebrate the day I was born — in a far off land many decades ago.

So here is to the age of 27, my age, where I intent to remain for many more decades.

Regards,
Obie