Jim's 50th Pipe Smoking Anniversary.

[JimInks]

Many, many thanks for all the kind words, folks. They made a good day a much better one for me.

 

[huntertrw]

JimInks:

This thread reminds me of a statement once made by Mark Twain: "As an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain from smoking when awake."

 

[judcole]

Some great stories in there, Jim. Thanks, and happy anniversary!

 

[seanv]

Thanks for the stories Jim. It was a fun read. Happy pipe smoking anniversary

 

[Choatecav]

Enjoyed a tasty lunch, and am celebrating my fiftieth anniversary as a pipe smoker with a bowl of pre-2014 Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend in the very first pipe I ever smoked (which was my father’s pipe), a late 1950s smooth with etched grooves straight Willard long stem adjustomatic Canadian with a black vulcanite stem. The last of this bag of Gold Star mmmMocha, neat, is my drink. Going to smoke the first few pipes I bought this afternoon.
View attachment 318678

Back when I was a teenager, my buddy Steve Parsons was trying for weeks to get me to try pipe smoking, knowing I had my father’s old pipe. He wanted someone to enjoy smoking with. Finally, he said, “Just try it, and if you don’t like it, I’ll never bug you again about it.” I said, “Anything to shut you up, Steve.” On June 20, 1974, he had a small still which was brewing his alcohol, and we were checking it about that time. The reason I remember the day is obvious. The reason I know the exact time I had my first bowl of pipe tobacco (1:30 p.m) is because I'm an infamous clock watcher, and when I lit up for the first time, I looked at my watch as I often do, and in this case, to record the moment so I could bitch Steve out if I hated it, which I obviously didn't. Btw, the tobacco he handed me was Borkum Riff Bourbon Whiskey, which was half decent in those days if you puffed slowly.

Steve said the batch was ready to drink, and he wanted me to try it. I said, "You are out of your freakin' mind, buddy. You made it, you try it." He wouldn't. He fed a sample to a mouse, and the mouse died. That ended that experiment. But, I enjoyed that tobacco, and was forever hooked on pipe smoking. I did bitch Steve out after high school when he quit smoking, and I was a lone smoker. I never let him forget it to this day.

Here's another story:
I was 16 and it was a very hot summer day as I was driving down the busiest street in town, smoking my pipe. The air conditioner in my car didn't work, so I had the windows down. Next thing I know, a cop stops me. He walks to my side of the car, sticks his head in the car, and has a funny look on his face. I asked why he stopped me. He said, "Aren't you smoking marijuana?" I told him I wasn't, and showed him the pouch of Skandinavik Regular. I said, "You thought I was smoking dope? If I was, would I be doing it in broad daylight in the middle of Church Street with my windows down?" "Well, I'm not used to seeing a kid smoking a pipe with pipe tobacco," as he apologized for bothering me, and walked away with a "I'm the dumbest cop in Alamance County" look on his face. I expect he graduated to policing school crosswalks after that.

I just dearly love good stories like these. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your "anniversary."

 

[tabakpfeife]

Nice. I think we are the same vintage. I got stopped once at Breckenridge Hospital in Austin (part time job while at the University of Texas) while carrying a baggie of tobacco, a poor man's pouch. I had some 'splainin to do.

 

[Steddy]

Love the stories and congratulations on a prolific 50 years of pipe smoking.

 

[Manawydan]

What a fantastic milestone! Congratulations and many thanks for your huge contributions to the pipe-smoking community, and wonderful stories! Keep 'em coming, Jim!

 

[JimInks]

JimInks:

This thread reminds me of a statement once made by Mark Twain: "As an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain from smoking when awake."

I know that line. Betcha didn't know my birthday is on the same day as Twain's. Different year, of course. I'm happy about that, too.

 

[Rwdpiper]

Congrats Jim! That is an awesome pipe. I started smoking in 2015 so I'm still working on my first decade lol.

 

[huntertrw]

JimInks:

Regarding your November 30th birthday, in addition to Mr. Clemens, you share that date with, among others:
Winston Churchill
Ben Stiller
Billy Idol
Steve Aoki
Bo Jackson
Woody Allen

 

[OverMountain]

This is the very first pipe I ever bought ($2.49) in 1974; a smooth three quarter bend Dr. Grabow Omega military mount with a nickel band and a black vulcanite p-lip stem. This was the closest I could get to a 4AB in a small town.
View attachment 318685

That is a great looking Grabow. Look at that grain!

 

[JimInks]

JimInks:

Regarding your November 30th birthday, in addition to Mr. Clemens, you share that date with, among others:
Winston Churchill
Ben Stiller
Billy Idol
Steve Aoki
Bo Jackson
Woody Allen

And Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

 

[JimInks]

That is a great looking Grabow. Look at that grain!

The quality of Grabow pipes was still good at the time. It's a really good smoker.

 

[bullet08]

Happy 50th!!!

 

[huntertrw]

And Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

Who was also a pipe-smoker!

 

[didimauw]

Fantastic stories my friend. I could read entire books of stories like that!

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Congratulations and happy 50th Jim. ️

 

[beefeater33]

Happy 50th! Jim, I gotta ask…. What in the Hell is a walking rep? I see you post this in the WAYS thread all the time and I even googled it…….. just curious

 

[JimInks]

My repetitions are walking up and down a steep hill at a brisk pace.