I stopped in Nashville, on my way to Birmingham, to see one of my old Cigar Friends from Cigar Family. Hadn't seen Ken in quite some time, we met for breakfast. I knew Ken had been undergoing some medical treatments that were less than pleasant but I wasn't sure of the problem. I still can't remember all the terms but he has a very rare disease, less than 200,000 cases on the planet. It is technically not cancer but a bone marrow issue that affects his red and white blood cell count and occasionally requires a transfusion. Some parts of the treatment have gone well, some, not so well. Ken is 71, looked very good and has a happy, upbeat attitude.
So that was the sadness. As we were getting up to leave, Ken pulled out a gift bag from hiding full of unopened tins of tobacco. I had left in a hurry the night before, grabbed a tin of 40th Anniversary to give to him. Thought that would be rather special. Photo of the tins he gave me shown below. Christmas Cheer is from 2010. Exotique from May 2013. Orlike DSK from 2015. Wilderness from 2010. 3 Oaks from 2010. I purchased the Northern Briar pipe today at The Briary in Birmingham.
Here's what is even more odd. I have a little bit of 3 Oaks left in a zip lock I got from another Cigar Family friend. Smoked a bowl on the way to Nashville late last night. Seriously, it was one of those magical bowls you encounter now and then, I enjoyed it immensely and remember being a bit sad knowing it was gone forever and I only had a couple of bowls left in the zip lock.
For those inclined to do so, please remember my friend Ken in your prayers now and then. He is truly a very special human being.
So that was the sadness. As we were getting up to leave, Ken pulled out a gift bag from hiding full of unopened tins of tobacco. I had left in a hurry the night before, grabbed a tin of 40th Anniversary to give to him. Thought that would be rather special. Photo of the tins he gave me shown below. Christmas Cheer is from 2010. Exotique from May 2013. Orlike DSK from 2015. Wilderness from 2010. 3 Oaks from 2010. I purchased the Northern Briar pipe today at The Briary in Birmingham.
Here's what is even more odd. I have a little bit of 3 Oaks left in a zip lock I got from another Cigar Family friend. Smoked a bowl on the way to Nashville late last night. Seriously, it was one of those magical bowls you encounter now and then, I enjoyed it immensely and remember being a bit sad knowing it was gone forever and I only had a couple of bowls left in the zip lock.
For those inclined to do so, please remember my friend Ken in your prayers now and then. He is truly a very special human being.
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