Yes, I came out of the smoking closet. I told my father I started smoking a pipe a couple of weeks ago. He used to smoke cigarettes when I was a kid (to some here I am still a kid at 24) but quit and hasn't looked back since. He understood though and really didn't have much to say. He informed me that he would have to tell my mother which I saw coming. Not soon after I received an e-mail from her saying, "I was disappointed to hear that you are smoking a pipe. That can lead to a bad and expensive habit. I thought you were smarter than that."
Of course she brought out the, "I am not mad, just disappointed," but I was ready! Here was my response:
"Smoking a pipe is not a habit. It is very similar to sipping a fine wine. trying to determine the different ingredients. For example, the sweetness of a Virginia leave, the smokiness of a Latakia or the spice of a Perique. A lot of great minds smoked a pipe from Albert Einstein to J.R.R Tolkein to even Dr. Seuss. A pipe smoker is not like a cigarette smoker who goes outside in the snow to smoke 5 minutes to get his nicotine high. A pipe smoker sets time aside to enjoy it. It is a calming ritual of drying the tobacco, filling the bowl, tamping the tobacco down and then lighting it. To some, the preparation is half the fun. Then you just sit down in a leather chair, read a book or listen to Billy Joel perhaps, all while pondering on the small things. Just enjoying the small happinesses in life. So you tell me my pipe is a habit? I respond with, 'Nay! My pipe is a companion.'"
Her response was along the lines of, "All smokers say the same thing," and "It will be the only joy in life."
So what about you guys? Any similar stories?
Of course she brought out the, "I am not mad, just disappointed," but I was ready! Here was my response:
"Smoking a pipe is not a habit. It is very similar to sipping a fine wine. trying to determine the different ingredients. For example, the sweetness of a Virginia leave, the smokiness of a Latakia or the spice of a Perique. A lot of great minds smoked a pipe from Albert Einstein to J.R.R Tolkein to even Dr. Seuss. A pipe smoker is not like a cigarette smoker who goes outside in the snow to smoke 5 minutes to get his nicotine high. A pipe smoker sets time aside to enjoy it. It is a calming ritual of drying the tobacco, filling the bowl, tamping the tobacco down and then lighting it. To some, the preparation is half the fun. Then you just sit down in a leather chair, read a book or listen to Billy Joel perhaps, all while pondering on the small things. Just enjoying the small happinesses in life. So you tell me my pipe is a habit? I respond with, 'Nay! My pipe is a companion.'"
Her response was along the lines of, "All smokers say the same thing," and "It will be the only joy in life."
So what about you guys? Any similar stories?
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