I usually find myself pretty reflective during this time of year... This has been a HUGE year for me and my family... the birth of my son, giving up our house to the bank (due to a few different gangs taking over our neighborhood), started a new job, family dealing with some pretty nasty illnesses... Today was a particularly difficult day for our family on a number of fronts.
Arriving at home tonight, my incredible wife suggested that I had been putting in a lot of time making things right for the family, and that I should go enjoy a cigar, dinner and a drink at Leaf/Famous. Well who am I to argue with that.
I walked in, and waiting at that bar for me was a BOTL that I recently met through my love of cigars. Although I tend to keep most people at an arms length, we have had some great conversations and I would truly call him a friend. As of late, we've been trading cigars, sharing some of our favorites, new finds, random sticks, whatever we want to pass along. Tonight he surprised me with three amazing gifts. A one of a kind blend that he personally worked on with a major manufacturer, a Kentucky Fire Cured that has been sitting in his humidor since the trade show, and a Heisenberg. Three gifts that had real meaning to him, and he was willing to share with me. We chatted for a while, and then he headed home to the mrs.
An older gentleman sat down next to me, and we started talking. It ended up being that I had a cigar in my travel humidor he was looking to try, and he had a unique boutique blend that he gave me. He asked me what it was about cigars that got me interested and keeps me interested. I gave him my honest answer, which if you are still reading (all one person that gets this far), its about the whole experience.
I got into cigars because as our friends were getting married, a few had cigars and I liked the experience. I continue to enjoy them because of the camaraderie that comes along with it. The fact that I can go to a cigar bar and be instantly welcomed by BOTL and SOTL, without judgement without a wall being built, welcomed with open arms to sit quietly and enjoy a smoke, to talk about whats going on, to prophesize what might happen if the embargo is lifted and we have two monte cristos is simply amazing, and I would say unheard of in many other circles.
I got home tonight, and after putting the kids to bed logged on to find two PM's about random surprise bombs headed my way. I am in awe at the kindness of this community and the cigar community at large.
What many people don't get, is that cigars are about more than just a smoke or about finding that HTF stick; this are about a brotherhood of people who do some amazingly selfless things. Thank you for letting me be a very small part of this great group!
Arriving at home tonight, my incredible wife suggested that I had been putting in a lot of time making things right for the family, and that I should go enjoy a cigar, dinner and a drink at Leaf/Famous. Well who am I to argue with that.
I walked in, and waiting at that bar for me was a BOTL that I recently met through my love of cigars. Although I tend to keep most people at an arms length, we have had some great conversations and I would truly call him a friend. As of late, we've been trading cigars, sharing some of our favorites, new finds, random sticks, whatever we want to pass along. Tonight he surprised me with three amazing gifts. A one of a kind blend that he personally worked on with a major manufacturer, a Kentucky Fire Cured that has been sitting in his humidor since the trade show, and a Heisenberg. Three gifts that had real meaning to him, and he was willing to share with me. We chatted for a while, and then he headed home to the mrs.
An older gentleman sat down next to me, and we started talking. It ended up being that I had a cigar in my travel humidor he was looking to try, and he had a unique boutique blend that he gave me. He asked me what it was about cigars that got me interested and keeps me interested. I gave him my honest answer, which if you are still reading (all one person that gets this far), its about the whole experience.
I got into cigars because as our friends were getting married, a few had cigars and I liked the experience. I continue to enjoy them because of the camaraderie that comes along with it. The fact that I can go to a cigar bar and be instantly welcomed by BOTL and SOTL, without judgement without a wall being built, welcomed with open arms to sit quietly and enjoy a smoke, to talk about whats going on, to prophesize what might happen if the embargo is lifted and we have two monte cristos is simply amazing, and I would say unheard of in many other circles.
I got home tonight, and after putting the kids to bed logged on to find two PM's about random surprise bombs headed my way. I am in awe at the kindness of this community and the cigar community at large.
What many people don't get, is that cigars are about more than just a smoke or about finding that HTF stick; this are about a brotherhood of people who do some amazingly selfless things. Thank you for letting me be a very small part of this great group!
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