George's Czech Tool

[wilson]

George passed away last month. He was 96. His daughter and son-in-law are my neighbors and friends. I only knew George a bit, and only over the past few years. He would spend a month or 6 weeks in the summer with his daughter and her husband and we'd go to dinner or have a drink on the porch. George preferred a Manhattan -- I'm not sure I ever saw him drink anything else. Just this past August, George put a new deck on the back of his daugher's house. Pretty impressive. He was a class act.
It seems that George had been, at some point, a pipe smoker. In his last few years he did not smoke and I have no idea how long it had been since he had smoked a pipe. A decade, at least -- probably more? Among his belongings my friend discovered a Czech tool. Being the only pipe smoker they know, they gave it to me.
It's a bit nicer, heavier gauge, than the typical Czech tool one finds most of the time. Maybe they all were like this 40 or 50 years ago? Still, it is just a simple Czech tool, but it is engraved with George's initials. Now, every time I have a pipe, I'm pleased to be using George's Czech tool to tamp my pipe and I think of him. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I could swear that my MM965 tasted a little bit better this evening.

 

[shaintiques]

Cool story, thanks for sharing. It is always fun to celebrate the lives of others and having something like that keeps their memory and legacy alive.

 

[dervis]

What a great way to always remember what sounds to be a great man. Thanks

 

[rockymtnsmoker]

Man. That choked me up a bit. Love the connection to the past that comes with this hobby. We pipers are all the richer for it. thanks for posting.

 

[cornsnob]

This is why I love pipe smoking

 

[cortezattic]

Thanks for relating a great personal story. I'll bet George is looking down on you with a smile. :clap:

 

[cynyr]

Agreed. For me, that right there is what pipe smoking is all about.

 

[tbradsim1]

Wil that story stayed with me , that"s the first thing I thought about when I got up, you know our possessions are only things, but the memories behind them are a marvelous thing. I hope you think of George when you tamp that pipe, a fitting tribute.

 

[voorhees]

What a wonderful memento of George you now have. I'm sure you'll cherish it.

 

[mso489]

It's a good thing to remember, while you are copping with a lose yourself, to distribute some of

mementos of the person who has passed to those who were close to them, even people who were

just long-time acquaintances. It means a tremendous amount to people to have a little something,

and helps them remember the person from time to time. My late wife loved jewelry, and I made

sure I distributed it widely, the better pieces to family and close friends. It really made me feel good

when a burglar dumped the (now much depleted) jewelry box into a duffle and made off with it.

He took some of my bling, but little of hers that was worth a damn. Some consolation.

 

[craig94yj]

Great story! It wouldn't surprise me if George had something to do with you enjoying your smoke a little more. I just got into pipe smoking myself because of my Grandfather. I currently live in his house. He passed away in 2002 and many things of his remain in the work shop in the basement. I had been aware of an old pipe rack that had sat on top of a shelf for as long as I can remember. The pipe rack is a wooden silhouette of "The Old Man of the Mountain". There were three old pipes sitting in that rack for at least 35 years. Being a cigar and cigarette smoker, I never really paid them much mind. I recently decided that daily cigar smoking was getting a little too expensive. I was immediately drawn to the Old Man downstairs. With the help of youtube and this forum I returned to service the three pipes. I noticed that the Rhodesian must have been his favorite of the bunch because it had at least a good 1/4" of cake built up in it. Cleaned up and in my daily rotation I think it is becoming my favorite pipe too. Coincidence??? I hope not. Happy smoking

 

[teufelhund]

Great story! Thank you for sharing.

 

[kris]

96 is a damn good age. I'm sure he's smiling as he watches you tamp...

 

[flmason]

It is special that your neighbor's family gave you that item. Each time you use it you can think of him and wonder about the pipes he might have used it on.

 

[tpollock]

Wonderful story. Thank you so much for sharing that personal memory with us. I do believe pipe smokers are a different breed of people.

Tim

 

[irish]

Thank you for sharing.

+1 cynyr

 

[fnord]

Perfect.
That tamper ended up were it was supposed to be.
Thank you for telling us about this, Wilson.
Fnord

 

[johntron76]

Really nice story! Thanks for sharing!

 

[allan]

Wilson
Touching story beautifully told
Thank you