Grandpa

[puffy]

He was born in 1880.When I was a kid he would he would take me fishing.When the fish weren't biting he would tell me stories of what life was like before electricity,and cars all the while smoking his pipe,or a cigar.He didn't care that I saw him smoking.He felt that when I was older I would have the right to decide for myself if I smoked or not.When I was twelve he gave me a pocket knife.Grandpa would stick a cigar in his pipe cut it off level with the top of the bowl and smoke it.I guess that's what I was suppose to use the knife for.Grandpa was a free spirit.He smoked his pipe where he pleased,and no one had the nerve to tell him not to.A great many folks smoked tobacco in those days.They all felt the way that grandpa did about it.I know that seems like a long time ago in some ways.In other ways though it seems like things have changed really fast.If grandpa could see how us pipe smokers are treated today he would surely wonder how things got this way.

 

[pstlpkr]

Great story Puffy.

Here is an excerpt from an old string about an old Veteran and his Rum Soaked Crooks that he smoked in his pipe.
Memorable Pipe Smokers From Your Past

I was a go-fer at Woodlawn Hardware Store, it was run by Mr. Fred, and Miss Mae. I made $1 an hour, 19 hours a week. (Old math: $1 x 19 = 2 movie tickets, 2 Sodas, 1 Medium Pizza "all the way", Dad put gas in the car.)

It was a dusty relic of the old style Mom and Pop Hardware stores where you could find things that you couldn't find anywhere else. (after a bit of rummaging of course) (you know the type) Even the hours were antiquated. 6 to 6 Mon. - Sat. except Wednesdays when we closed at noon because of an old blue-law. (so people could go to church) Well there was an old WWI veteran that would come in to buy a couple of nails or screws or just to shoot the breeze. He smoked a pipe with a Rum Soaked Crook cigar in it. I always found this amusing, but practical. He told me he had been smoking that way since "Ma momma give me dis pipe fo my 6'd birt-day. Mah re-ward for bein' a good boy-n stayin' in school".

 

[lonestar]

Thanks Puffy, I always look forward to the stories you have to tell