newbs looks back at life and cigars

[popNsmoke]

cigars have become a part of my life over the past 10 yrs. Cigars have always fascinated me i loved the smell and the passion that people had for there smokes. I never tried a cigarette it never looked as appealing. And even though im a down home Tn boy i never tried a chew of Copenhagen. I was 20 when i tried my first stogie, i picked it up in an open bazaar in Thailand on a mission trip "Villagers", a 5 pack in the foil wrappers for 80 baht!. We held onto the pack so not to offend the missionary's we were staying with and lit them up in Malaysia on the church roof overlooking the Patronas towers. I was hooked! i loved everything about it. The cut, the light, drawing big blew smoke and seeing it dissipate as i tried to blow smoke rings over the towers; it became a passion!. I was privileged to be a young missionary i smoked my cigars after our nights out sharing the gospel and praying for people. Me and my buddies enjoyed the time spent together in far away lands trying different brands and living the life only missionary and millionaires can. I smoked in Chad Africa, France, Italy, Greece, Cancun, Morocco,and Spain. Living out of back packs with a bible in my hands.
Over the yrs my taste changed from COA, to VSG, to poorer days when i would light up swisher sweets and the .75cent vanilla cigars from the B&M. I never got around to stocking a humidor in the early yrs just couldnt justify the price and so i would smoke whatever i purchased for the day. When i left missions and got married i would spend my alone time out on the porch reading a good book sipping black coffee and enjoying a good smoke. The wife would make me change , shower and brush my teeth before she ever touched me. I would go to the lounges and talk with the pros and try to glean all the info i could from them. I subscribed to "cigar aficionado". and then went out hunting for anything with a 90 rating. I never smoked more than 2 or 3 a week and would frequently go a month or so with out, but i always came back to Indian weed.
As i approach thirty i look back over the last decade and see that every goal i met was signed off with a good cigar. I marked all my occasions with a smoke keeping the best from foreign lands for when my friends started to marry off. We drank and smoked at bachelor parties and to celebrate trips to new lands. We smoked when our children were born and when we we reunited after long journeys. I have not seen most of those guys in many years now. Like my high school alumni they are just friends on facebook. I smoked when my babies were born when the Sox won the world series, before i took my oath and joined the army, after basic and for every promotion. Life's great moments are better sealed with the fumes of a foreign leaf wafting in the air. The good times are always marked by a good smoke. But not only the good, with the passing of Grandparents and the loss of o softball game or the close of an era of life it still seemed right to light up and let the bad times roll away with the smoke as well.
Now with my humidor filling and Cbid taking a good portion of my earnings on a monthly basis i enjoy my cigars just the same. Cigars are a part of who i am they are not my sum but they are a defining factor and one that i am proud of. As for me ill smoke to the glory of God!

[tattoofreak]

Aloha welcome from Hawaii great intro glad to have you here on Puff. I hope you enjoy fill free to join in on the PIF,MAW and trades.

[Blaylock]

Welcome Aboard! Thanks for the good intro.

[KickU2Sleep]

Well Said...Welcome aboard

[MrMusicMan1]

Welcome. Very nice introduction. It's nice to see someone with such compassion and respect for their cigars and time with cigars. You will fit right in. Take care.

[tx_tuff]

Welcome to Puff!

[ProBe]

Hello and welcome to Puff..

[saigon68]

Hi Brad & welcome to Puff. When I saw the heading of your post I thought you were my age ;>) You've got a lot of living to do my friend and may good cigars always be by your side. Thank you for your sacrifice. Best wishes.

[Legion]

That is one of the best introductions I have seen. Cigars go hand and hand with great moments in life. Welcome to the site.

[Cypress]

Welcome to Puff.

[karmaz00]

well put. welcome to puff