tstarr1863

Pipe Nirvana ?

On Saturday, I had changed the oil and filter in three cars and the
transmission fluid and filter in one additional one. On Sunday
morning, I considered myself lucky to have enjoyed a nice bowl while
taking all the old oil and filters to the recycling center. Then I
came home and mowed the lawn, did three loads of wash, repaired a
couple of sprinkler heads and by 1:00 pm I was in need of lunch.
Determined to keep the "carbs" from making me sleepy in the afternoon,
I had a light, high protein, salad. I then prepared a cup of my
favorite Pete's Coffee and retired to the backyard under the apple
tree with, coffee and my newest Lionel train catalog. One child was
working on homework while the wife and daughter were at an afternoon
opera matinee.

On the way to the backyard, I caught the wonderful aroma of my pipes
and tobaccos. One of the Boswells was calling out in particular and it
is a dandy. A rusticated full bent, one of JM's best. I filled it with
Dark Shadow from Baker St. Tobacco in Napa and decided that I could
best enjoy the pipe, the coffee and catalog from the comfort of the
chaise lounge. Boy was that a mistake. The Dark Shadow is a
wonderfully light aromatic that carries just a hint of chocolate? I
settled in to the chaise and brought the bowl to light. Nice....then
I had a little sip of the coffee…nice....Now I began to peruse the
catalog in search of the perfect Christmas gifts. But the pipe was
sooo good...The Dark Shadow was so nice...soon I began to focus more
on the pipe. The coffee was a great partner too. Soon the bowl was
warm and the aromatic smoke filled my nose as well as my palate. I
began to loose all interest in the train catalog. (Now this was
getting serious.) I took off my reading glasses and gently tamped the
pipe. Then I made my second big mistake. I let the chaise lounge back
down one more position so that my head was tilted back. Wow....The
bowl of JM's rusticated master piece was now warm and in this
position, the pipe extended down my chin and let the warm pipe bowl
rest upon my chest. Geeze...what is a fellah to do?

Soon my breathing slowed more and more, my whole body began to relax
and my eyes began to close on and off. I drew very gently on the pipe
as I let it rest from, first one side of my mouth and then the other.
The smoke was outstanding and it gently filled the air and my nostrils
with that delicate, smoldering aroma. Soon it grew quiet in the yard.
It was warm and the afternoon seemed to stand still. Totally relaxed,
I drifted in and out of that wonderful place between sleeping and
waking. That great place where you think of vacation spots, old
friends, great ski slopes filled with powder and athletic contests of
the past. It must have lasted for 20 minutes. The pipe continued to
smolder and smolder in my hand as I changed sides once in a while.
About every 3 breaths I would "sip" a little smoke from it and then
send it back through the bowl to "stoke the fire" a little and produce
a delicate little plume of aroma. Gosh...what Nirvana!

Finally the bowl was on its final leg and I tamped and relight for
what I knew would be the last time. It produced about 3 more minutes
of wonderful bliss before I had to realize that this incredible time
had come to an end. The Dark Shadow left a wonderful aftertaste on my
palate and a nice aroma in my nostrils as I lay there in the recovery
mode.

Finally, I found the energy to shake myself back to life, rise and
spoon out the ashes before resuming "real life". What a great way to
spend an afternoon. I think these kinds of moments are, "Why I Smoke a
Pipe".

E. Spear

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tim parker

Great post, E! ;-)

I often get that "ah, this is what it's all about" feeling
when relaxing with a good pipe. ;-)


Regards,

Tim Parker ... Germain's Medium Flake in a no-name bulldog

tim parker

Great post, E! ;-)

I often get that "ah, this is what it's all about" feeling
when relaxing with a good pipe. ;-)


Regards,

Tim Parker ... Germain's Medium Flake in a no-name bulldog

tstarr1863

Dear Tim and All,

Jeff Culbreath's very fine post is still available on-line at
http://www.lumen-christi.com/essay03.html
It should be "required reading" for anyone thinking about trying a
pipe. Jeff is a fine gentleman and a great writer.

E. Spear

tstarr1863

Dear Tim and All,

Jeff Culbreath's very fine post is still available on-line at
http://www.lumen-christi.com/essay03.html
It should be "required reading" for anyone thinking about trying a
pipe. Jeff is a fine gentleman and a great writer.

E. Spear