Middle-age musings ... cigars and life

I was asked today if I liked cigars when one of my coworkers saw a catalog in my office. This question prompted me to reflect a little.

I grew up in a household where Mom and Dad both smoked, as did most of their friends. My grandfather smoked cigars (the King Edward variety) and later pipes. For most of my life, I was not tempted to even try it, but nor was I really bothered by it. In college I tried the occasional Swisher Sweet in my car, trying to stay awake on 100 mile trips home for weekends and back, but that was the extent of my smoking behavior.

Then a few years ago, after eating lunch with a friend of mine, it was suggested that we visit the local tobacconist and have a cigar. This was my first introduction to a quality hand-made cigar. If I remember correctly it was an H. Upmann. I remember it didn't burn my tongue like the cheap ones did, and it took alot longer to finish...but mostly I remember how enjoyable it was just sitting there with Tony, enjoying that cigar with my friend.

Skip ahead 3 years...in the spring of 2005, after enjoying a handful of good cigars since that lunch experience, I decided to take the plunge, invest in a small humidor and a bundle of mild Nicaraguan cigars - Don Kiki - Green label to be exact. I began sitting in my front yard under a shade tree most evenings enjoying a cigar. I noticed I began sleeping a little better. Being a bit more relaxed after a long day. As the summer came I didn't mind the humid So. Illinois evenings as much...I enjoyed sitting watching traffic go by as savored these mild cigars with their hints of cocoa and even - orange peel of all things.

Soon after that I began coming to the Depressed Men group once a week, and adding once again the comraderie I felt over that lunch time smoke - now with a new group of guys - which includes Tony. My tastes in cigars have changed (I'll write more on that later). I still only smoke a handful a week (show me how that makes me addicted). Cigars are something that captures my interest, and a few of my hard-earned dollars.

The odd thing for me is that for the majority of my life I really didn't have many things that most would consider vices - didn't drink (still don't enough to say I do), didn't smoke, never tried any drugs - pretty boring by most standards. Went to school, church, work, ballgames, got married, had a child, etc... don't get me wrong life was pretty good, but still not any vices to speak of. Then at 42 years old I decided to take up cigars. Now at 44 what did our state government decide to make all but illegal but the one vice that I chose to partake in at what many would call middle-age.

But I can't complain...I have a personal relationship with a God that loves me, a great wife and daughter, a job I love, coworkers that are a joy, good health, and great friends. It's gonna be alot harder for the govt to take those things away - though I'm sure they will try.

And I can even still enjoy a cigar, I just have to be a little more selective on where.