Hello friends,
I have decided to return the fold here at Pipes Magazine after a five year absence. I gave up pipe smoking for some health reasons, but I am back in the saddle because I surmised that my health will never get any better than it is now and I have chosen to enjoy some aged tobacco while I can!
Things have changed so much in the pipe community since I was last active in these forums. To resist temptation, I stayed away from following tobacco news or making purchases until January of this year and I quickly saw how much the landscape had changed. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst!
Beyond the looming regulatory threats, I was greatly saddened by the demise of McClelland just as I was planning to stock up on their fine blends for the long haul. Losing this exceptional company is a terrible blow, but they leave behind an incredible legacy. I will enjoy all the sweet Virginias I have left from those magicians in Kansas City while I reminisce about all the lost ways of producing tobacco!
On the plus side, there seems to be no shortage of enthusiasm about pipe tobacco and it is great to still see new pipe smokers still embracing the hobby/habit despite all the challenges facing the industry. So many great new blends have surfaced since my departure - even though I won't hold my breath, I sincerely hope that they are given some sort of reprieve from those executioners at the FDA...
I am also glad to see some familiar faces and names here on the forums despite my long absence. It looks like many old forum buddies have left the scene, including some who have sadly passed away, but I am glad that a considerable number of people remain active here. A lot of the other sites I used to follow have hollowed out or shut down altogether so Pipes Magazine remains as an oasis for pipe smoking knowledge and camaraderie in that sense...
Anyway, I hope you can all forgive me for my sudden but surprisingly long absence! There were numerous good people on this site that I lost touch with as a result of me putting my pipes aside and I regret not having stayed in contact despite my personal difficulties. I had honestly intended to check in around here to stay abreast of the news but it felt necessary for me to distance myself from pipe smoking altogether. My TAD is too strong to resist - quitting cold turkey seemed like the only way to go.
Looking back, I suppose it is no coincidence that my mom had a history of calling me the prodigal son as I had a tendency to disappear for long stretches. Some things never change!
With that said, I'm back on the forums now and I am hoping to stick around for a spell. Five years really passed in a flash! It's been a wake-up call that I better enjoy what I can, while I can and smoke my pipes in moderation since it is something I have truly missed.
I don't know if anyone remembers me but I look forward to chatting with you all once again and contributing to this community in some small way.
Cheers!
I have decided to return the fold here at Pipes Magazine after a five year absence. I gave up pipe smoking for some health reasons, but I am back in the saddle because I surmised that my health will never get any better than it is now and I have chosen to enjoy some aged tobacco while I can!
Things have changed so much in the pipe community since I was last active in these forums. To resist temptation, I stayed away from following tobacco news or making purchases until January of this year and I quickly saw how much the landscape had changed. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst!
Beyond the looming regulatory threats, I was greatly saddened by the demise of McClelland just as I was planning to stock up on their fine blends for the long haul. Losing this exceptional company is a terrible blow, but they leave behind an incredible legacy. I will enjoy all the sweet Virginias I have left from those magicians in Kansas City while I reminisce about all the lost ways of producing tobacco!
On the plus side, there seems to be no shortage of enthusiasm about pipe tobacco and it is great to still see new pipe smokers still embracing the hobby/habit despite all the challenges facing the industry. So many great new blends have surfaced since my departure - even though I won't hold my breath, I sincerely hope that they are given some sort of reprieve from those executioners at the FDA...
I am also glad to see some familiar faces and names here on the forums despite my long absence. It looks like many old forum buddies have left the scene, including some who have sadly passed away, but I am glad that a considerable number of people remain active here. A lot of the other sites I used to follow have hollowed out or shut down altogether so Pipes Magazine remains as an oasis for pipe smoking knowledge and camaraderie in that sense...
Anyway, I hope you can all forgive me for my sudden but surprisingly long absence! There were numerous good people on this site that I lost touch with as a result of me putting my pipes aside and I regret not having stayed in contact despite my personal difficulties. I had honestly intended to check in around here to stay abreast of the news but it felt necessary for me to distance myself from pipe smoking altogether. My TAD is too strong to resist - quitting cold turkey seemed like the only way to go.
Looking back, I suppose it is no coincidence that my mom had a history of calling me the prodigal son as I had a tendency to disappear for long stretches. Some things never change!
With that said, I'm back on the forums now and I am hoping to stick around for a spell. Five years really passed in a flash! It's been a wake-up call that I better enjoy what I can, while I can and smoke my pipes in moderation since it is something I have truly missed.
I don't know if anyone remembers me but I look forward to chatting with you all once again and contributing to this community in some small way.
Cheers!
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