From time to time I bring a pipe to work and smoke while driving through the city. While responding to a call I heard my pipe, in its case, hit the floor. After the call I rummaged through the vehicle searching for the pipe. I could not find it and had another place to be so off I went. I searched the car two more times that night. Then it hit me...the pipe was GONE! Back to the location of the original call. There in the dimly lit street it lay. A crushed case next to a manhole cover. Dare I look inside? I had to. The pipe had to have fallen out and landed beneath the car while I was searching for it earlier. The sound of it hitting the floor was actually the sound of it hitting the door where it must have been resting when I opened it. The stem was shattered and the Meerschaum bowl was scuffed badly on one side. I managed to hold in the tears. "Do I replace it?" I thought. No. Revive the beauty I have been working on as it has just begun to color. A new stem would put it right back in service. The scuff adds character. A scar to attract attention and a reminder of how careless I was and how blessed that it could still be salvaged. In short, my bent Meerschaum needs a stem. Any advice on what to get and where?
