Set the Wayback Machine to 1998

[kybearfuzz]

A few weeks ago I was going through some boxes of photos, looking for a picture of a friend of mine who is retiring in July. I used the pic to draw his retirement cartoon. In the stack of photos, I found these little reminders of youth taken on the same roll of film. It was the summer of 1998 and I just got back from DC (where my friend worked).

It is amazing how much a person can change over the course of 12 years. back then I had that cheesy mustache and my hair was amazingly thick.



There are very few photos of me while I was in school and after really. It was only after I came out that I really didn't mind having my pic taken. I became a lot more open and thanks to the advancement in digital photography did it become so much more accessible to get pics.

And nowadays I can laugh at myself. Even at that cheesy mustache. Why I didn't grow my goatee or beard out back then is a mystery.

Comments

[whitmanschild.livejournal.com]

Awww... How adorable...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

When I was the age you are in this photo, the style was a mustache only, too. I look back on the rare photos of that time period ... oh, my:) I was 175 lbs and thought I was fat! I find your observation about photos and coming out ... the correlation between being comfortable once you were out and allowing photos an interesting one ... Perhaps, our before selves were worried about revealing too much of our true selves in a photo ...

Have a wonderful day!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think I grew the goatee that year or the one after for Halloween. My chin has been covered ever since.

I think before coming out, I was very guarded and didn't want to let too much out. I was surfing the web for gay stuff back then, so it was only a matter of time.

Have a great day yourself!! :)

[jccub1.livejournal.com]

It had never occurred to me before. There are no pictures of me that I know of, other than those that my family have, from before I came out. Similarly, I avoided pictures when I was young. I grew a goatee a couple of years before coming out and the beard a few weeks after around the age of 22. And there are plenty of pics now. I too was guarded before - what a difference 13 years (and being myself) has made... Thank you both for giving me an insight into myself!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I'm shocked there weren't more pics of you. You're a beautiful guy :)

It always comes down to comfortability with photos I guess and at that time in my life, I didn't like to be photographed.

[jccub1.livejournal.com]

An unexpected compliment! *blush* lol, although believe me...I was a fugly youth...

I can understand the 'comfort factor' - thankfully you're more comfortable in front of the camera now...because the rest of us wouldn't have so many great pics to admire if you weren't! :D

[prisoncitybear.livejournal.com]

Cute, cute, but I am still forwarding these pics on to Chris Hansen.
: )

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL... Chris Hansen?

[prisoncitybear.livejournal.com]

The guy on To Catch a Predator.
: )
Kind of a Pedo-stache

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Yikes! I knew who he was, but not the why. Glad I'm now into bearded bear territory! Now I only look like the kind of guy that molests willing adult furry guys (I hope) *big cheesy grin*

[blockade-boy.livejournal.com]

Aw! That's like "dollhouse with kittens inside" cute! And re: the mustache/beard, sometimes you have to ease yourself into that kind of thing...

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I grew my first beard when I was about 20. I should find a photo of it. I looked.. um... not so great...

[dendren.livejournal.com]

definitely a cutie back then but you have definitely upped the hotness as you've gotten older.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Thanks handsome. I appreciate that :)

[badgerpdx.livejournal.com]

Cute, but you're way hotter now.

[spatts5.livejournal.com]

When I was (much) younger, I grew just a mustache as well PLUS friends convinced me to perm my hair (it was the thing back then). Talk about cheese!!! And to make matters worse, I know I have a photo somewhere.

[mikiedoggie.livejournal.com]

I have never tried just a mustache.

Strangely enough you look younger now than you did then, in my mind. How weird is that?

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I think that a guy has to have a certain facial shape and facial hair thickness to pull off the mustache-only look. I don't have either.

Well, thanks on that compliment, by the way! That Oil of Olay is really working :)