I just love autumn.

There are several things for all of us to appreciate and look forward to in the three months leading up to December:The kids go back to school.The leaves change colors and provide a daily, brilliant display that begs you to simply stop and take notice.Football season.Hunting season, and the observance of three major holidays during that time period: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Black Friday.As wonderful as all of that is, an even bigger celebration occurs for an entire month No-Shave November!When I first heard about it some years back, I thought it was a simply a guy's excuse for being able to be lazy and scruffy for an entire month under the ruse of preparing for deer season as it was "necessary" for facial warmth.Then, and I assume in total retaliation, the women jumped on the band wagon and tossed their razors aside to sport a much more natural and European look during that same month.I know many high-school aged girls and young-adult women who take NSN to a whole other level, almost making it a competitive sport to see who can out-Sasquatch the other.For some reason though, guys are generally not as accepting of this practice among their women.I remember a Boost Mobile commercial that I found to be particularly amusing where a young woman was seated on the front of a bicycle with her presumed boyfriend seated behind her.She happily cruised down the street as the 2-foot-long hair from under her armpits flowed freely through the air and into the face of that poor gent.I laughed hysterically every time I saw it.My husband gagged.Clearly she was a huge fan of NSN.Turns out though, there is a more noble purpose for No-Shave November.According to www.no-shave.org, "The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. Donate the money you usually spend on shaving and grooming for a month to educate about cancer prevention, save lives and aid those fighting the battle."Lucky for me (but unlucky for the true NSN campaign) one of the benefits of middle age is that I do not have to shave my legs any more.My legs are perpetually smooth, as are my arms.It is a hereditary blessing from my grandmother.Unfortunately, there is a flip side to all of this middle-aged female hair loss bliss.Hair loss on the legs is awesome: Hair loss on the head, not so much.If that isn't bad enough for the ladies, it seems that nature often plays a rather cruel joke on us as we age: Facial hair.I remember being horrified at age 5 or 6 at having to kiss one of my older female relatives who had a hefty mustache and some lengthy chin hair to boot.It was very much like comedian Eddie Murphy's depiction of his "Aunt Bunny" in his hilarious (albeit raunchy) "Uncle Gus and Aunt Bunny" bit.It was unnatural to me at that age and I swore that I would never torment my children in that capacity.The situation never presented itself with my kids; however a new horror awaited me once I became a grandmother.I. Became. Aunt. Bunny.I remember that day very clearly.I was in the bathroom flossing when I noticed a long black hair on my chin.Thinking it was just one of my dog Spencer's hairs that seem to follow me wherever I go, I proceeded to simply remove it with my fingers.It didn't budge.I was anxious to grab the tweezers in order to pluck it out, but I was also afraid that it would become angry and come back with reinforcements.I was right.So therefore, in keeping with No-Shave November and in honor of Eddie Murphy and all of his fans, I leave you with these final words: Goonie goo goo.