A father and son thing, one of the greatest lessons

[zanxion]

Last night I paid a visit to my dad’s. It was a nice not too warm night at his house by the sea. My dad, a 78 year old fella, is an avid pipe smoker.

We sat by the balcony, he went inside, and brought his pipe and a nylon bag with tobacco. He took out a pinch of tobacco and shove it in his pipe in one go just like that. To impress him, I took out my pipe from my backpack. I saw surprise to his old eyes in a “what is that little prick doing” note. He saw the pouch of Captain Black Gold and grabbed it. He sniffed it and said:

- What is that crap son?
- Vanilla topped cavendish tobacco, I said.
- Are you a girl or something?
- Why dad?
- Give me that pipe.

He took my pipe, removed the stem and saw the active carbon filter I had in it. He removed it saying you don’t need that. Then he stuffed a pinch from his tobacco in the bowl.

- What’s in there dad.
- Just virginia and perique. You’ll smoke this.

Here comes the bite of the year I thought.

We lit our pipes and started puffing. To impress him, I started some retrohaling. My sinuses started to feel sore right away. He saw me and said:

- What the heck are you doing son?
- I am retrohaling to get the most of the taste from your tobacco.
- You retro-what?
- Retrohaling. Blowing the smoke out of my nose.
- Blow it like that and you’ll start crying like a girl. You are smoking too hot (and indeed it felt really hot). Slow down. Sip some in your mouth. When your mouth gets full, hold that smoke for a while to cool it down a bit, and then blow it out of your nose slowly, not like blasting clean your nose.

I did exactly that, and a whole new taste came in! I kept doing this through out to the end, and I must confess that I never enjoyed smoking like this.

Nearing the bottom of the bowl, he saw me breathing. And he said:

- When you are close to the end of it, do not blow the smoke through your pipe. You’ll make it wet and it will taste like a burned and dump mop.

I did so, and it has been the first time I enjoyed even the last bit of the tobacco burned to some fine little ash.

- That’s my boy he said.

It has been the first time he ever said that. Me at my 50s felt like I shot a rocket to the moon. It was not just the best smoke I had since I start smoking a pipe, but also of the best moments with dad.

- Dad, may I get some from your tobacco.
- No. Buy your own.

Leaving, I could listen to my mom yelling at him for dragging me in smoking.

“Sorry, dad!”. I left and it still feels like pepper on my tongue.

 

[BingBong]

Never too late for schooling! Which VaPer was it?

 

[zanxion]

I have no idea. It was in a nylon zip-lock bag. Dad buys it in bulk from friends of his. I think I will stop with the aromatic tobaccos and turn exclusively to this. Next weekend I will be with him again for more of his pipe tobacco secrets. I will ask him to buy me some.

 

[Pypkė]

Great coming of age story. Father helps man to graduate from cream popsicles to steak and eggs.

Perique must be one of those vegetables that different people taste differently, like cilantro. I don't get "pepperiness" from it at all. It's presence makes me salivate. Anyways... thanks for sharing this story about you and your father. Never did get to sit and smoke with my father because I only got into smoking after I found his box of pipes after he died. Spend lots of time with your parents.

 

[Briarcutter]

Great story thanks, I like your dad already

 

[Sigmund]

Awesome.

He knows what he is doing and that cpt black will bite you faster than anything.

 

[anotherbob]

Last night I paid a visit to my dad’s. It was a nice not too warm night at his house by the sea. My dad, a 78 year old fella, is an avid pipe smoker.

We sat by the balcony, he went inside, and brought his pipe and a nylon bag with tobacco. He took out a pinch of tobacco and shove it in his pipe in one go just like that. To impress him, I took out my pipe from my backpack. I saw surprise to his old eyes in a “what is that little prick doing” note. He saw the pouch of Captain Black Gold and grabbed it. He sniffed it and said:

- What is that crap son?
- Vanilla topped cavendish tobacco, I said.
- Are you a girl or something?
- Why dad?
- Give me that pipe.

I disagree Vanilla cavendish is not my favorite but it's still one thing I'll always enjoy. I think tobacco and Vanilla are a classic combo and also a crowd pleaser.

He took my pipe, removed the stem and saw the active carbon filter I had in it. He removed it saying you don’t need that. Then he stuffed a pinch from his tobacco in the bowl.

I never have liked filters but frankly it's a matter of preference. Though I feel that they can encourage not perfecting ones technique. But if you like them that's fine. I also think system pipes do the same thing without killing any flavor. I include things like falcons in the category of system pipes. Anything with a well of some sort.

- What’s in there dad.
- Just virginia and perique. You’ll smoke this.

Here comes the bite of the year I thought.

Frankly vanilla cavendish bites harder in my opinion. The only things that ever give me any bite are aromatic or Macbarren.

We lit our pipes and started puffing. To impress him, I started some retrohaling. My sinuses started to feel sore right away. He saw me and said:

- What the heck are you doing son?
- I am retrohaling to get the most of the taste from your tobacco.
- You retro-what?
- Retrohaling. Blowing the smoke out of my nose.
- Blow it like that and you’ll start crying like a girl. You are smoking too hot (and indeed it felt really hot). Slow down. Sip some in your mouth. When your mouth gets full, hold that smoke for a while to cool it down a bit, and then blow it out of your nose slowly, not like blasting clean your nose.

I did exactly that, and a whole new taste came in! I kept doing this through out to the end, and I must confess that I never enjoyed smoking like this.

Ain't that just wonderful? That first time you see how slowing down and taking it easy really opens up the experience.

Nearing the bottom of the bowl, he saw me breathing. And he said:

- When you are close to the end of it, do not blow the smoke through your pipe. You’ll make it wet and it will taste like a burned and dump mop.

I did so, and it has been the first time I enjoyed even the last bit of the tobacco burned to some fine little ash.

- That’s my boy he said.

It has been the first time he ever said that. Me at my 50s felt like I shot a rocket to the moon. It was not just the best smoke I had since I start smoking a pipe, but also of the best moments with dad.

That's kind of sad. That whole dads withholding praise. I can relate though. I wondered if my dad got replaced by an alien clone or something when I got the same thing from him. That's just a PSA for all of us. Theres a space between giving you're kid a big head and making them wonder if you have any respect for their abilities at all. Go for that space they will end up a functional adult without as much unneeded emotional baggage.

- Dad, may I get some from your tobacco.
- No. Buy your own.

Leaving, I could listen to my mom yelling at him for dragging me in smoking.

“Sorry, dad!”. I left and it still feels like pepper on my tongue.

For balance Moms need to not baby their children into adulthood. There is a space between protecting them from all dangers and letting them learn on their own.
Awesome sounds like something you'll remember for a long time.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

- Dad, may I get some from your tobacco.
- No. Buy your own.

Damnnn!

"I love ya son....but not THAT much!"

 

[DeerparkDays]

A great story..…and well told…..I could picture you two while reading it. I hope I have a similar moment with my sons when they are older.

And the “Mom yelling” bit was priceless…..thanks for making my day!

 

[OzPiper]

Reading this with a tinge of sadness as both of my sons are non-smokers and anti-tobacco in any form, like their mother. So I won't get to experience the joy of having a few bowls together with them.
And also not having a son to pass a favourite pipe onto.

My wife has a chronic lung condition from growing up around coal mines, as her father was a miner.
So I'm very pleased with their decision not to smoke as chronic airways disease and lung cancer are nasty conditions.

 

[Morbius]

A great story. Dads never stop teaching you.

 

[Jester69]

What a great story! I love the times my sons and I share a pipe. I'm so happy for you that you have this with your father. I know he smiled from ear to ear after you left and enjoyed your mother yelling at him like he never has before.

 

[zanxion]

I disagree Vanilla cavendish is not my favorite but it's still one thing I'll always enjoy. I think tobacco and Vanilla are a classic combo and also a crowd pleaser.

I never have liked filters but frankly it's a matter of preference. Though I feel that they can encourage not perfecting ones technique. But if you like them that's fine. I also think system pipes do the same thing without killing any flavor. I include things like falcons in the category of system pipes. Anything with a well of some sort.

Frankly vanilla cavendish bites harder in my opinion. The only things that ever give me any bite are aromatic or Macbarren.

Ain't that just wonderful? That first time you see how slowing down and taking it easy really opens up the experience.

That's kind of sad. That whole dads withholding praise. I can relate though. I wondered if my dad got replaced by an alien clone or something when I got the same thing from him. That's just a PSA for all of us. Theres a space between giving you're kid a big head and making them wonder if you have any respect for their abilities at all. Go for that space they will end up a functional adult without as much unneeded emotional baggage.

For balance Moms need to not baby their children into adulthood. There is a space between protecting them from all dangers and letting them learn on their own.
Awesome sounds like something you'll remember for a long time.

I like the vanilla topped tobacco quite a lot. But that first ever with a VaPer all of a sudden shifted my taste at least to VaPer mixtures from aromatic tobacco. It could be that smoke being my first really proper one. I will certainly not abolish any aromatic from my rotation, but vaper will hop in twice as much as any other.

My very first pipe was a Brebbia with a stinger. Now, imagine me, a complete ignorant of how to smoke tobacco pipes, with no idea how to properly pack a pipe, and trying some Captain Black Gold with it. I still remember the bite from my very fist smoke. It was the main reason I started using those filters. Now, my dad was a real eye opener. Without the filter, the draw was absolutely effortless, and the slow smoke full of taste. I will try some balsa filters for an even drier smoke, but I think that filters are no longer for me too.

Very well said about dads keeping as much distance needed by their sons, so they grow up with all the means to cope by themselves. Now a pensioner, but running around the clock to provide for his family back then, my dad was distant, with a serious look, and as I can remember him smoking since I was at school, I cannot recall a single smile on his face ever. Mom is the exact opposite, always smiling, overprotective, she still treats me like a five year old when I visit them. I was about to discuss with him about family happiness when he took some deep breath and said "Got some good smoke, a great wife, got rid of the kids, isn't that a life, or what".

I called them yesterday. While talking to dad, my mom was yelling him "tell him to quit smoking". Poor dad!

 

[Sig]

Its funny that my dad sounds the complete opposite, but exactly the same too.
My dad is currently 86 years old and as jovial as a man can be. Never has a negative thing to say...usually.
He hasn't always been this way. He's always been a great dad, but was very strict when we were growing up. About 20 years ago my mom got really sick and dad changed. All the things they had planned for retirement were gone. Over time my mom became a complete invalid. My dad refused to put her in a home, so he took care of her. Over these years my dad softened. My mom died in 2021. Now dad is just a ball busting goof.
He has never used tobacco and acts just like a 6 year old when he sees me smoking a pipe or cigar.
He smiles, he giggles, he says, "blow it out your nose", or "make smoke rings". And he is completely sound of mind, hes just a goofball. His dad smoked machine made cigars for decades....White Owl, Garcia Y Vega...
Grandpa got throat cancer and had his voice box removed and talked with a vibrator for his last 30 years.
Yet my dad never mentions the dangers of smoking to me.
The way they sound the same is hes always teaching. Both him and my mom were school teachers and his teaching never stops.
Every time I back out of his driveway he says, "watch out, look both ways".
He lives on a tiny suburban street with almost zero traffic.
I had to drive his car the other day. He says, "adjust the seat, they buttons are right here".
I had to wrestle the door out of his hands. He's always got a comment about how to do daily tasks.

 

[WVOldFart]

A very nice story, well written. Your father had great advice. He seems a little rough around the edges, but a man I think I would like. I'm glad you had that moment together. You will remember that for the rest of your life.

 

[anotherbob]

I like the vanilla topped tobacco quite a lot. But that first ever with a VaPer all of a sudden shifted my taste at least to VaPer mixtures from aromatic tobacco.

Oh I get that. I certainly prefer tobacco over topped tobaccos (aromatics) for the majority of my smokes. I just get a bit more out of it. But I would genuinely be sad if I could never smoke some of my favorite aromatics. I just get more out of them. It's sort of like comparing a beautiful and not very educated woman to a beautiful and extremely intelligent woman. I am going to get something worthwhile from spending some time with either but the later is just going to be that much more rewarding all things considered.

It could be that smoke being my first really proper one.

What's awesome is that experience isn't totally isolated in ones pipe smoking journey. You might or might not have other equally eye opening smoking experiences. Either way there are many more chances for you to realize something that brings even more enjoyment to your pipe experience. Whether it's the first this opens my eyes up to a better technique or the I do actually like this particular style of blend or at least this particular version of it. Interestingly it was a Vaper that changed shifted me from mostly smoking aromatics to more tobacco forward blends. Solani Virginia Flake. Which is very light on the Perique. But it's not even one of my favorites at this point.

I will certainly not abolish any aromatic from my rotation, but vaper will hop in twice as much as any other.

I remember going from trying mostly aromatics to aromatics becoming my dessert smokes. Something I enjoy on occasion but not my main course.

My very first pipe was a Brebbia with a stinger. Now, imagine me, a complete ignorant of how to smoke tobacco pipes, with no idea how to properly pack a pipe, and trying some Captain Black Gold with it. I still remember the bite from my very fist smoke.

I have never tried a stinger. I always wonder if the people who do like them feel shy about admitting it or if there aren't many who do like them. Brebbia is one of those brands that doesn't get enough love in my opinion. I suspect it's because they stopped using the smoking gnome stamp on their pipes. I feel lucky I was around a few pipe smokers that were willing to show me how to smoke without getting tongue bite. I've gotten it certainly and still on occasion get a light bite. I think that's honestly the biggest reason pipes aren't as popular as they could be. People tend to not enjoy things that bite.

It was the main reason I started using those filters. Now, my dad was a real eye opener. Without the filter, the draw was absolutely effortless, and the slow smoke full of taste. I will try some balsa filters for an even drier smoke, but I think that filters are no longer for me too.

It's always an option either way. One disappointment I've had is realizing that being able to take a filter but not using one is an option. I.e. I could buy a filter pipe and not use filters without experiencing an inferior smoke.

Very well said about dads keeping as much distance needed by their sons, so they grow up with all the means to cope by themselves.

The father son relationship is complicated and unfortunately some of that complication doesn't help anyone. Some of it does. I remember that when one of my friends became a father for the first time, they said it hit them that it wasn't just having a kid but having someone who was going to be a full person someday.

Now a pensioner, but running around the clock to provide for his family back then, my dad was distant, with a serious look, and as I can remember him smoking since I was at school,

I feel like fathers were told that's the one place their worth as a parent really comes in and it has sold short their real importance. Oh that's super important for sure. But that's like saying a wives only real importance is looking pretty.

I cannot recall a single smile on his face ever.

My dad only had a few times he'd smile. If he was doing one of his hobbies when me or my brother accomplished something but that one was off to the side and not when we were looking. Had to have other people notice it for us.

Mom is the exact opposite, always smiling, overprotective, she still treats me like a five year old when I visit them. I was about to discuss with him about family happiness when he took some deep breath and said "Got some good smoke, a great wife, got rid of the kids, isn't that a life, or what".

I've seen extremely accomplished adults have their mother treat them like a little child. Like he's a chef of some renown but his mother is still going to make sure he remembers the basics of meal preparations like it's his first month around a stove.

I called them yesterday. While talking to dad, my mom was yelling him "tell him to quit smoking". Poor dad!

Oh that reminds me of the saddest reaction I got to smoking in public. I felt that someone is looking at me and when I looked that way this elderly couple was walking past and the old man was giving me this long faced pouty look. I realized after a second he was looking at the pipe. I felt kind of bad for him.

 

[Pipeandapencil]

I cant wait to share this hobby with my boys when they're older. I'm putting up tins now to to pop with them on special occasions. Hopefully the hobby will still be here in 10 years, but if not at least we'll have a few really good tins of escudo.

 

[Fuelman]

What a wonderful story. I wish my dad smoked a pipe, but he never did. The good thing is I can smoke a pipe with my son. Thank you for the story.