Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Leaf,
It's been a while since I've been here, and it's been a while since I've smoked a cigar. Very few of you may remember me, but I used to post a couple of posts here and there about half a year ago until March of this year - and that's where this story of mine starts.
I originally joined BOTL.ORG about a year ago around this time; I had turned 18 and ventured into the fascinating world of cigars. Along the way I met many great and very kind fellow BOTL and SOTL, smoked many great cigars, and had plenty of memorable and transcendental experiences. Incredible, I believed, about how great cigars were as a moderated hobby and a way that brought people from all walks of life together to share in the session (or herf!).
But cigars were a hidden world of mine to my family. I was a community college student who still lived at home, with a small travel humidor hidden in his closet, and double-guillotine cutter and Ronson Jet Torch in his drawer away from view.
To be honest, I had it good! I hid my interests well, and my family never noticed. But something inside of me still didn't feel right. I loved my family. They only raised me to become a respectable and honest man - which is what I try to be to this day. As I discerned more about my actions, I came to the realization that in order for me to be a truly honest and respectable/respectful man, I needed to be honest to my parents and tell them the truth.
One night, after about half a year of smoking cigars, I finally told my parents about my moderate hobby for cigars, and everything you can think of that went bad happened. I lived in a family who detested smoking above all things and whose parents never had smoked before. They didn't support my smoking and wanted me to stop.
This was my impasse; But I held to my battle for my cigars. I was honest in my reasons for my special hobby, and a ray of hope shined forth as vague as it seemed. My mom, who was most disturbed about the confession as a mother does with only best interests, and I came at an ultimatum - that for now I stop smoking until I turned 21. She told me she still wouldn't support it then, and she told me she still would not like me to smoke, but she said she'll comply with my decision to continue then-after given I respect her wish for me to wait until I turn 21 and have most likely moved out the house by then.
My parents did thank me for my honesty after that night, and I do feel proud of myself that I no longer would have to hide from the people I love what I really liked to do.
I haven't smoked since the end of March, and my last cigar was a Drew Estates Liga Privada T-52 Toro. Since then, I haven't posted much since I really haven't been smoking much (or anything at all for that matter). Sometimes I would reminisce about being able to take an hour or two to myself and smoke... or being able to celebrate an accomplishment with a smoke... or being able to herf again with my BOTL and SOTL. I would read reviews on BOTL about the new smokes that come out month after month and try to resist the urge to just go back into hiding and start smoking again!
But I don't. :angel: I understand that my hiatus will not be in vain - I will, on June 2, 2012, be able to celebrate a triumph - a victory from a suppression and my end of an agreement - with a cigar. I look forward to that day smiling, knowing on this journey I may not able to smoke a cigar now, but like a good friend, nor time or distance, the cigar will be there for me to celebrate with me.
So I hope that to all my Brothers and Sisters of the Leaf on BOTL.ORG, that you all keep enjoying your smokes! That you all never forget to adore the aroma they present, and cherish the unique tastes they embody. When you don't smoke for a long time, the subtleties are what you miss the most. And for the Fathers and Sons that smoke cigars together out there, I really admire that connection because that's one I will never have with my dad.
I wonder if there are any other younger guys out there who've came out about their cigar passion to their nonsmoker parents or families... if so I'd like to hear your own stories.
Sincerely yours,
Aaron
From Sacramento, CA
It's been a while since I've been here, and it's been a while since I've smoked a cigar. Very few of you may remember me, but I used to post a couple of posts here and there about half a year ago until March of this year - and that's where this story of mine starts.
I originally joined BOTL.ORG about a year ago around this time; I had turned 18 and ventured into the fascinating world of cigars. Along the way I met many great and very kind fellow BOTL and SOTL, smoked many great cigars, and had plenty of memorable and transcendental experiences. Incredible, I believed, about how great cigars were as a moderated hobby and a way that brought people from all walks of life together to share in the session (or herf!).
But cigars were a hidden world of mine to my family. I was a community college student who still lived at home, with a small travel humidor hidden in his closet, and double-guillotine cutter and Ronson Jet Torch in his drawer away from view.
To be honest, I had it good! I hid my interests well, and my family never noticed. But something inside of me still didn't feel right. I loved my family. They only raised me to become a respectable and honest man - which is what I try to be to this day. As I discerned more about my actions, I came to the realization that in order for me to be a truly honest and respectable/respectful man, I needed to be honest to my parents and tell them the truth.
One night, after about half a year of smoking cigars, I finally told my parents about my moderate hobby for cigars, and everything you can think of that went bad happened. I lived in a family who detested smoking above all things and whose parents never had smoked before. They didn't support my smoking and wanted me to stop.
This was my impasse; But I held to my battle for my cigars. I was honest in my reasons for my special hobby, and a ray of hope shined forth as vague as it seemed. My mom, who was most disturbed about the confession as a mother does with only best interests, and I came at an ultimatum - that for now I stop smoking until I turned 21. She told me she still wouldn't support it then, and she told me she still would not like me to smoke, but she said she'll comply with my decision to continue then-after given I respect her wish for me to wait until I turn 21 and have most likely moved out the house by then.
My parents did thank me for my honesty after that night, and I do feel proud of myself that I no longer would have to hide from the people I love what I really liked to do.
I haven't smoked since the end of March, and my last cigar was a Drew Estates Liga Privada T-52 Toro. Since then, I haven't posted much since I really haven't been smoking much (or anything at all for that matter). Sometimes I would reminisce about being able to take an hour or two to myself and smoke... or being able to celebrate an accomplishment with a smoke... or being able to herf again with my BOTL and SOTL. I would read reviews on BOTL about the new smokes that come out month after month and try to resist the urge to just go back into hiding and start smoking again!
But I don't. :angel: I understand that my hiatus will not be in vain - I will, on June 2, 2012, be able to celebrate a triumph - a victory from a suppression and my end of an agreement - with a cigar. I look forward to that day smiling, knowing on this journey I may not able to smoke a cigar now, but like a good friend, nor time or distance, the cigar will be there for me to celebrate with me.
So I hope that to all my Brothers and Sisters of the Leaf on BOTL.ORG, that you all keep enjoying your smokes! That you all never forget to adore the aroma they present, and cherish the unique tastes they embody. When you don't smoke for a long time, the subtleties are what you miss the most. And for the Fathers and Sons that smoke cigars together out there, I really admire that connection because that's one I will never have with my dad.
I wonder if there are any other younger guys out there who've came out about their cigar passion to their nonsmoker parents or families... if so I'd like to hear your own stories.
Sincerely yours,
Aaron
From Sacramento, CA
