A Lot of Pipes

 I’ve broken more pipes this past year than I ever have in over 50 years of pipe smoking.  But my pipes are getting old now, except for one of the pipes that broke recently.  I used to say that about $150IS is the most I’d spend on a pipe, but now it is about $60 maybe up to $75.  I just can’t see paying a lot for a pipe.  

I told my wife yesterday that I used to think I’d smoke a pipe costing ten grand, but these days I don’t think so.  There is too much risk handling a pipe costing that much.  Dunhill puts their collectable pipes in leather and velvet lined cases for protection.  I can now see why.  Pipes break.  

I think my pipes broke because I’m getting older and I might be more careless with my pipes.  Back in the day blue collar workers who smoked pipes would get a Dr. Grabow at the local drug store for about ten bucks and smoke it every day until it broke or just burned out.  Then they’d just go back and spend another ten bucks and replace it.  

I still have my first and second pipe in my collection and I rarely smoke them.  I don’t want anything to happen to those two pipes.  I think in my older years of pipe smoking I just get a little too careless in handling and caring for my pipes.  I’ve enjoyed my Dunhill and have decided to just keep it on the shelf.  I might do the same thing with my Angel pipe.  

I’m just a bit more careless these days and don’t take care of things as I did when I was younger.  I’d rather have two $50 pipes than one $100 pipe.  And I’m telling my wife and family not to buy me any more expensive pipes.  Some guys use cob pipes for every day pipes.  You can buy a good cob for twenty bucks and smoke it until it wears out then just buy a new one.  

I had a friend who smoked only clay pipes and if it broke he could replace it for less than $40.  I was into better pipes, but for me it’s about the tobacco these days and not about the pipe.  I can enjoy good tobacco in most any pipe.  It used to be that a man’s pipe was a fashion accessory.  But I am not into fashion.  I mostly wear shorts and a T-shirt and if we go out I’ll wear nicer shorts and a tropical shirt.  For me a pipe doesn’t have to make a statement.

One of my best smoking pipes is a $30 estate pipe I bought in Gettysburg.  A lot of pipe smokers find good estate pipes at flea markets for five bucks.  I just can’t risk breaking hundred dollar pipes these days.  So now, a sixty dollar Dr. Grabow is just fine with me.  I’m smoking a fairly expensive Viking pipe this morning instead of my very expensive Dunhill.  My tobacco this morning is Luxury Navy Flake by Peter Stokkebye.  My coffee this morning comes from Trader Joe’s.  Thank you for your time and Peace and love to each one of you.

Dave