The Spirit of Stogies

[Papa Herf]

It is with fear and trembling that I even approach this subject. However, it is a topic near and dear to my heart. I suspect, and I hope, I'm not alone.

My best friend is a preacher. Never mind the denomination; it's truly not important. After high school, we started a tradition of getting together once or twice a year to smoke cigars. Obviously, having never done it on a very frequent basis, neither of us knew what we were doing. As a result, until very recently, smoking cigars for me was a special occasion thing.

Last April, we got together in Dallas for our semiannual visit and revisited our tradition. We also talked about how, in our faith tradition (protestant), it seems sometimes that something "mystical" was missing.

At the end of our weekend, we found ourselves at yet another smoke-filled cigar bar in Dallas. As we sat there, he puffed on his Criollo Pato and I pulled on my Maduro churchill. Being the girly-man he is (just kidding, Matt, if you ever read this), he sipped his white russian while I tucked away my Newcastle.

As we reflected on the weekend's events, he said "You know, there's just something ... well, almost magical about watching the smoke rising from the end of this cigar as it spins and twirls away in unique patterns. And the smell, and the flavor ..." You get the picture. Me, I thought that white russian was going straight to his head.

Five months later in August, we got together again. This time, it was because one of his twin boys born 10 weeks premature, passed away after just 2 short days on the planet. With no small amount of ambivalence, I brought cigars to help Matt focus on celebrating Nathaniel's birth, not knowing whether the pain of Micah's death would completely overshadow the joy of Nathaniel's life.

The night of precious little Micah's funeral, with Matt's blessing and encouragement, I smoked a cigar - nothing terribly exciting (at least around these parts) - an eXtreme churchill. I smelled the pungent chocolatey aroma of the stick in my hand; I tasted its earthy warmth. I watched the ebb and flow of the reddish-orange glow with each pull, and I followed the wispy curls of the smoke as they faded just out of reach, up into the August moon. I began to appreciate the mystery and magesty of the moment -not just the smoking, but the time devoted to sitting and focusing and celebrating life. I thought back to that April conversation about the missing mystical quality in our faith. And I got it.

So, my question is, do any of you stogatologists feel the same?

[galaga]

Sometimes it is just a smoke, hurried in an attempt to relax a little after a stupid day. But sometimes, especially when the temp is warm and the chill doesn't chase me inside I have a tree that I enjoy watching grow. It is about 40 ft tall now and in the evening it catches the sun long after it has set in my backyard. Its a communion of sorts with my cigar and my surroundings, the evening light on the leaves and the sounds of the comming dusk. Sometimes a visit from my family, always my aussie/german shepard mix, maybe one of the two cats.

Then there's the celebratory or the hoping for the best smokes for BOTL's that have had good or bad things happen in their lives, one whose Mom has passed away and one whose premie son still in the hospital that haven't mentioned it publically on the board, or someone who has and asked for prayers and well wishes. Well thats in the same category of a "sending all the best" smoke and it is really the same as the watching the tree grow smoke. A reflective, focused sending of "hoping for the best" or happiness that good thngs do happen in life and a small celebration.

Anyway, JMHO, and one thing I might add. It's not only the "terribly exciting" cigars that get us in this reflective mood, but the ones that fit the mood of the occasion, whether that be a $2 bundle stick that has been a rock steady performer, or a celebratory $20 uber-stick. So since daylight savings time is here, here's to the summer smoking season of 2005, great idea Mr Franklin!

[pinoyman]

Beautiful post!

Muchas Gacias.

Salud!

[Papa Herf]

Thanks Pinoyman -

Hey, Admin, can you fix the typo in my title? It should be the "spirit", not the "sprit." Thanks in advance -

[pinoyman]

Originally Posted by Papa Herf

Thanks Pinoyman -

Hey, Admin, can you fix the typo in my title? It should be the "spirit", not the "sprit." Thanks in advance -

Nashville is one of the place I'm dreaming to visit one day! Food, Music and the Architectural Heritage! one day Amigo, one day...

Salud to you papaherf!

[Papa Herf]

Bring it on!! Love to have you visit - it's a pretty sweet mix of southern gentility and big-city cultural opportunity. And with Minnie Pearl as a patron saint, who could want anything else?

[altbier]

nice post papa herf, thanks

[Papa Herf]

Thanks!

[rkt]

After a day of fixing things and work outside I sat down for my first "outdoor" cigar of the season yesterday. It was about 7pm. I turned on the radio and sat back. They started a 12 songs in a row on the radio. As each song came on it took me to a different place and time. My former best friend and herfing buddys(he passed away 2 yrs ago) favorite song came on. I sat there as it got dark thinking of the good times, watching the smoke rise and blow away.

I miss him...... a lot.

[Churchlady]

I can't count the incredible experiences I've had while smoking a cigar in the "presence of holiness" for lack of a better term. There are times when there is some sort of transcendant experience that happens. There's a particular place that several of us meet on a twice yearly basis and after our meeting sit out on the verandah and smoke cigars. It has a mystical quality to the rising smoke, the "special" conversations, the connectedness with each other, the smoke and the universe. I will be lucky enough to have the experience in Louisville in the coming week - it's more than good friends getting together for a herf, it's a combination of conversation, understanding and "incense" as we call it.

In a word, I know exactly what you're talking about and cherish those memories and the cellular recollection that they bring.

(Wish I'd known you last year, every year we used to treck to nashville for an annual meeting - we've since changed the venue)

[shakespeare]

very nice posts.
I´ve had days like these more than once and I´ve only been an avid smoker for about 4 months. Smoking a stogie sure does have a certain mysticism.

I get completely mesmerised by the way the smoke dances on top of sweet Tawny when I slowly lay the thick, billowing smoke down the glass. Something that brings both the wine and the smoke to life,,, as if the smoke were dancing alone to her own music on a scarlet sea...

I´m actually having one of these moments as I write... So yes.... very mystical indeed.

[IHT]

i read into your post about reasons why we smoke or what we celebrate or what we pay homage to...

tomorrow (if i'm still not sick as a dog) i will light up my last Montecristo #3 (yes, i need to buy another box) to pay homage to my dad on his b-day.

yesterday, that was my sons 5th b-day, i was suppose to smoke a 5 yr old VR DA, but this damn cold is kickin' my ass. i bought the box to celebrate his b-days and special occassions, and to share one with him on his 18th b-day (an 18 yr old cigar, boxed the same month/yr he was born).

so, i have a couple "rituals" that i'm starting... the MC #3s to honor my dad, as i was going to share one with him before he died, and the VR DAs to celebrate my son.

[Papa Herf]

Interesting exercise. Thanks, guys.