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I'm going to say I had mine today.
The cigars I bought 12 years ago were when I lived alone, from an on-line retailer and then eventually stuffed in the attic. When I recently decided I wanted to rediscover them, it was on my own and I smoked a couple alone. Yet I'm thinking that what I've embarked on is actually a social activity: like-minded people sharing their opinions, thoughts and recommendations, then setting the world to rights through clouds of aromatic smoke.
So, today was the first time I went to a tobacconist, chatted a bit about cigars (oh, my vast knowledge kept them enthralled for hours
) and bought a couple. I'd kind of imagined my first 'social' moment would be in one of the big stores in London or a herf or other cigar venue: it turned out to be The Pipe Shop in Bournemouth. I guess not a lot to choose from in the great scheme of things, but enough to confuse me and I let myself be steered to what I already knew, but it was great to talk to someone who enjoys what I enjoy, thinks like I think, and so on. Then a woman in the shop said 'have you really just spent ?29 on 2 cigars?' I replied 'yes, if that's what they cost' and eventually the shop owners and me were explaining the virtues of fine cigars, the care with which they're made, the enjoyment of a bit of time taken out of a busy life, and she scuttled off with some e-contraption and bottle of nicotine. Somehow, this experience feels more significant than actually smoking the cigars - though I'm looking forward to that!
I'm interested to hear other 'first moments' - it may be the 1st, 2nd, 3rd ... cigar you smoked, the first meet up, whatever, but it definitely has to be the first time you thought 'yeah, this is good. I like this. This is me.'
The cigars I bought 12 years ago were when I lived alone, from an on-line retailer and then eventually stuffed in the attic. When I recently decided I wanted to rediscover them, it was on my own and I smoked a couple alone. Yet I'm thinking that what I've embarked on is actually a social activity: like-minded people sharing their opinions, thoughts and recommendations, then setting the world to rights through clouds of aromatic smoke.
So, today was the first time I went to a tobacconist, chatted a bit about cigars (oh, my vast knowledge kept them enthralled for hours
) and bought a couple. I'd kind of imagined my first 'social' moment would be in one of the big stores in London or a herf or other cigar venue: it turned out to be The Pipe Shop in Bournemouth. I guess not a lot to choose from in the great scheme of things, but enough to confuse me and I let myself be steered to what I already knew, but it was great to talk to someone who enjoys what I enjoy, thinks like I think, and so on. Then a woman in the shop said 'have you really just spent ?29 on 2 cigars?' I replied 'yes, if that's what they cost' and eventually the shop owners and me were explaining the virtues of fine cigars, the care with which they're made, the enjoyment of a bit of time taken out of a busy life, and she scuttled off with some e-contraption and bottle of nicotine. Somehow, this experience feels more significant than actually smoking the cigars - though I'm looking forward to that!I'm interested to hear other 'first moments' - it may be the 1st, 2nd, 3rd ... cigar you smoked, the first meet up, whatever, but it definitely has to be the first time you thought 'yeah, this is good. I like this. This is me.'
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