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.
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.