Granted I'm new, but the help and conversations between fellow members on there have been amazingly eye opening. Now on to my story:
I just finished one of my recent most enjoyable smokes, not because of the blend, although it's not bad, but rather the meaning behind it. Last Thursday, a very loyal customer of one of the cigar shops I work at lost his 3 year long battle with leukemia. Now Paul was definitely not a person who listened to authority or any guidelines, even during his last year of battle he smoked his favorite Punch Sesenta's by the box, it was his one true vice that he told me got him away from his ordeal for a short moment in time. I've only known Paul for about 6-8 weeks, I only work one day a week, but he always came in to chat and keep me company.
Paul had a habbit of grabbing the trash can and picking up for whoever was closing the store that night, when closing time came he would turn out all the signs and take the trash out for us. He told me one night 1 month ago after he found out his cancer was back and he had 1-3 months to live that doing the trash made him feel normal and gave him a feeling that he might not be as useless as he thought. I argued with him the first few times, as I knew his time was coming to an end but realized he was right and in the end it was his world and he was going to write it the way he wanted for the last few weeks.
Paul shared two if his cigars with me, one in the lounge one night, he was having a rough day and asked if I'd sit with him and smoke a cigar, we stayed after hours and I enjoyed it greatly, he then threw me another before leaving and told me to enjoy the golf course that weekend as he knew i was going up north to golf with a friend. Sadly the last cigar gifted by Paul to myself was the one I smoke today. Paul purchased a box of his favorite cigars and told the guys that he knew his time was going soon but wanted everyone to enjoy one last cigar on him after he passed. His funeral was this morning and the regulars have spent the day in small groups enjoying the last cigar gift from Paul while smiling and giving eachother shit about anything we could find, just as Paul wanted and enjoyed doing while up here.
I know this isn't technically the right area, but I will say this: Thinking about Paul today during the cigar, I realized he was much like this forum, giving until the last moment, and even after you think its over, he bombed us all from beyond. If you've read this all, I thank you from my heart, I only knew the man for 2 months, but his passing isn't any easier because of it. If anything I ask the next cigar you set flame to, think about this for no other reason than to thank those who pass on good gestures within this site as well as those who might not be on here, but do it now or in the past.
Without the fine guys like Paul and the rest on here, our passion for cigars would never have reached the level we are at now. Chasing the unicorns in the market is fun, but so is passing on your favorites to someone who may not know. In the end I see cigar culture driven by both, and damn does it make me smile knowing that I've got more to learn, and easily have a community ready to teach me.
Good day everyone, and thank you Paul
I just finished one of my recent most enjoyable smokes, not because of the blend, although it's not bad, but rather the meaning behind it. Last Thursday, a very loyal customer of one of the cigar shops I work at lost his 3 year long battle with leukemia. Now Paul was definitely not a person who listened to authority or any guidelines, even during his last year of battle he smoked his favorite Punch Sesenta's by the box, it was his one true vice that he told me got him away from his ordeal for a short moment in time. I've only known Paul for about 6-8 weeks, I only work one day a week, but he always came in to chat and keep me company.
Paul had a habbit of grabbing the trash can and picking up for whoever was closing the store that night, when closing time came he would turn out all the signs and take the trash out for us. He told me one night 1 month ago after he found out his cancer was back and he had 1-3 months to live that doing the trash made him feel normal and gave him a feeling that he might not be as useless as he thought. I argued with him the first few times, as I knew his time was coming to an end but realized he was right and in the end it was his world and he was going to write it the way he wanted for the last few weeks.
Paul shared two if his cigars with me, one in the lounge one night, he was having a rough day and asked if I'd sit with him and smoke a cigar, we stayed after hours and I enjoyed it greatly, he then threw me another before leaving and told me to enjoy the golf course that weekend as he knew i was going up north to golf with a friend. Sadly the last cigar gifted by Paul to myself was the one I smoke today. Paul purchased a box of his favorite cigars and told the guys that he knew his time was going soon but wanted everyone to enjoy one last cigar on him after he passed. His funeral was this morning and the regulars have spent the day in small groups enjoying the last cigar gift from Paul while smiling and giving eachother shit about anything we could find, just as Paul wanted and enjoyed doing while up here.
I know this isn't technically the right area, but I will say this: Thinking about Paul today during the cigar, I realized he was much like this forum, giving until the last moment, and even after you think its over, he bombed us all from beyond. If you've read this all, I thank you from my heart, I only knew the man for 2 months, but his passing isn't any easier because of it. If anything I ask the next cigar you set flame to, think about this for no other reason than to thank those who pass on good gestures within this site as well as those who might not be on here, but do it now or in the past.
Without the fine guys like Paul and the rest on here, our passion for cigars would never have reached the level we are at now. Chasing the unicorns in the market is fun, but so is passing on your favorites to someone who may not know. In the end I see cigar culture driven by both, and damn does it make me smile knowing that I've got more to learn, and easily have a community ready to teach me.
Good day everyone, and thank you Paul
