Carrot Mustache

Men have been growing some pretty awesome mustaches for centuries.

Joshua Chamberlain of the 20th Maine Infantry wore a gallant mustache during his heroic defense of Little Round Top at Gettysburg and while he presided over the surrender of Confederate troops at Appomattox near the end of the Civil War.

Joshua Chamberlain and his mustache.

Wyatt Earp groomed a rather formidable mustache during his days in the Wild West.  His 'stache no doubt instilled fear in the Cowboys while blasting away during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.

Wyatt Earp and mustache. 

The prevalence of these grand mustaches dwindled with time, but would reappear here and there over the decades.  Papa Hemingway flaunted a sporting mustache during his pursuit of marlin and other big fish off Key West and Cuba in the late 1920s and 1930s.

This giant tuna was obviously lured by Hemingway's impressive mustache.

Tom Selleck wanted attention and a piece of the action in the 1980s and almost singlehandedly (nod to Burt Reynolds) brought back the 'stache.

Selleck and his Thomas Magnum mustache.

After pondering the handlebar mustache for a while, I wasn't sure if I had what it took to wear one without fear of laughter.  Think about it. Chamberlain's gallantry demanded respect, so did his mustache.  Earp dished out heat, but never took any for his facial hair.  Hemingway was so tough that I bet even his own mustache wanted to grow a mustache.  And Selleck's mustache beckoned the ladies.  

I finally decided that if I really wanted a mustache I just needed to commit to it.  So like any determined gardener, I grew my own.

Possibly the world's first carrot handlebar mustache.

Ladies and gentlemen, behold the greatness of the Carrot Mustache!