The Splendiferously Bearded Writers Social Club: Sir Henry Taylor

  • Name: Sir Henry Taylor
  • D/O/B: 18 October 1800
  • Member Since: 1864
  • Status: Charter Member
  • Important Role: Chief adviser on beard grooming techniques and trends
  • Hobbies: Modeling; being friendly with literary giants; clerking; looking intensely soulful
Henry Taylor  by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1864

Henry Taylor by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1864

His beard is so awe-inspiring as to deserve a second look:

Sir Henry Taylor by W.J. Hawker, 1885

Sir Henry Taylor by W.J. Hawker, 1885

The Splendiferously Bearded Writers Social Club: Vincent van Gogh*

  • Name: Vincent van Gogh
  • D/O/B: 3/30/1853
  • Member Since: 1886
  • Status: Active Member
  • Important Role: Giving art lessons to fellow members
  • Hobbies: Going on long walks through the countryside; living intensely; being misunderstood; transforming the art world
Van Gogh Painting Sunflowers by Paul Gauguin, 1888

Van Gogh Painting Sunflowers by Paul Gauguin, 1888. His beard is splendiferous by virtue of its vibrant hue.

*Vincent van Gogh was an exceptionally talented letter writer, at a time when correspondence was an art form. His letters are vivid, intelligent, and beautiful word paintings.

[Daily Prompt] Good Tidings: Positively Dickensian

Today’s Daily Prompt-Good Tidings:

Present-day you meets 10-years-ago you for coffee. Share with your younger self the most challenging thing, the most rewarding thing, and the most fun thing they have to look forward to.

This is my contribution!

Positively Dickensian

Two women sit across from each other at a table in a coffee shop. They take their tea the same way: Earl Grey, strong, two sugars. Turbinado, please, stirred clock-wise.

Their conversation goes like this:

2004 Mae: Hey, why are we blonde? We haven’t been blonde since we were seven, and we both know that was way more than ten years ago–yours or mine.

2014 Mae: We’ve met before, right? We’ve been radically altering our hair every few months since we were twelve. Some things don’t change. Wait until you get to 2012. That was a great hair year for us, even if we got sick of the Miley comparisons.

2004: Who is Miley?

2014: Never mind. We’ll know soon enough, and we’ll wish we didn’t.

2004: Oh, okay. Anyhoo, this is kind of weird. Why are we here, again? Do you have big news for me? Because I’m not sure that I want to know. Even if it doesn’t suck.

2014: Good, because I didn’t plan on giving you specifics, anyway.

2004: Well, what if I changed my mind? What if I want to know now?

2014: Too fucking bad. It doesn’t work that way.

2004: Did you bend time and space just to have tea with me? Honestly, that is kind of creepy. Is this some next-level Miss Havisham shit? Future me is so bereft that she finds a way to come back to a point when life was better? Oh, my god. Do I really turn into Miss Havisham? Seriously, is my future that pitiful?

2014: I’m not wearing a tattered wedding dress, am I? So, no. I forgot how kooky we can be.

2004: Wait. Wait! Do I-do we-become…normal? I’d rather be Miss Havisham.

2014: Haha, no! We’re amusing, too!

2004: Hey, don’t take credit for that line! I said it, so I am the amusing one. Continue reading

The Splendiferously Bearded Writers Social Club: Alfred, Lord Tennyson

  • Name: Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1st Baron Tennyson)
  • D/O/B: 8/6/1809
  • Member Since: 1862
  • Status: Charter Member
  • Important Role: Coordinator of club poetry workshops
  • Hobbies: Carrying out duties as the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom; coining now-famous phrases; sitting for intense portraits
Alfred Lord Tennyson by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1869

Alfred, Lord Tennyson by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1869