Random Pipe Thoughts

[garydh2000]

When I was a young boy, both my dad and grandfather smoked a pipe. Dad smoked Kentucky Club Mixture and pap smoked Half n Half. I can remember sitting on my dad's lap while he smoked his pipe. It smelled so good and this was in the 1960's so there was really no real concern about second hand smoke. At some point in my childhood, dad got sick and gave up the pipe and cigs.

I had been a non-smoker for many years. I started with cigars maybe a year ago, maybe a little less. I was really enjoying cigars, at least as much as you can through the winter months in western Pennsylvania and having to mostly smoke outside. I found cigar smoking to be relaxing and I developed a taste for fuller strength stogies with a dark maduro wrapper. I found a place in my city that had a nice walk-in humidor and made great coffee so I would hang-out there on some Saturdays and smoke. They sold these really nice fat Miami made cigars that were just excellent.

So while sitting in this establishment one Saturday, called Leaf n Bean, I picked up a copy of Cigar Magazine. Each issue of this magazine features an article about pipe smoking. So I read the pipe article, can't remember the issue date, but it was written by Steve Nathan. The article was hilarious as he wrote about his dad and his pipe smoking, Steve's own smoking, his family, etc... It made me start to think about my dad and pap and their pipe smoking. I start to think that it would be cool for me to try out the pipe. This revelation occurred in January 2009.

I now have three briar pipes, all Boswell's. I am just loving smoking these pipes. The seemingly endless types and flavors of tobacco is amazing. Some evenings I sit out on my back patio with my pipe, a nice drink and read The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. What a treat it is. And I am growing quite fond of my pipes. It's as though they become extension of you. They bring so much pleasure to me. I also enjoy cleaning them and smelling them after they have been smoked.

I guess I have caught the "pipe-bug" in a big way. I don't post that often but I am always on-line reading others writings as I continue to learn more and more about this fascinating hobby. Thanks for your time.

Gary

[DubintheDam]

Nice...for sure, pipe smoking is the best bad habit there is out there. Funny, tell you a wee story....My mum called today to say that her cousin Maidy who lives in the US, just sent her 7 pipes with a pipe rack. My mother often speaks to her on the phone...my mother is from Donegal (north west Ireland) and many people from her island emigrated to the US over the years. The pipes were her husbands when he was alive, my mother obviously mention I was crazy about pipes...low and behold, the package arrives on the doorstep (in Dublin). I'm off to Ireland in a week or so....I have no idea if they're Dunhills or Dr. Grabows...either way I'm happy...I don't think I'll be able to sell any...they're too special.

[garydh2000]

Dub,

That is so cool. That will make the anticipation of your upcoming trip even more exciting. It's like capturing a piece of someones history with those pipes. I wish my mum would have saved my dad's pipes for sure.

Gary

[ShamWow]

My interest in the pipe started with my father-in-law and an old family friend. How I got into cigars as well I'll never know..lol

For me at least, I agree that pipe tobacco delivers more variety in taste and overall a greater smoking experience. I hit the "zone" more often with my pipe. But having said that, having a good cigar with my favorite adult beverage is a tough act to follow.

Enjoy!

Ed