A Pipe is a Pipe

 I thought about this yesterday.  Back in the day when pipe smoking was more common, the wealthier gave thought to a pipe as one might think of as an expensive luxury.  But a more common person might be able to afford that one pipe they got at the local drugstore and smoked it until it broke and they’d just go and replace it for another ten bucks.  If you smoked a pipe of any kind you automatically belonged to the club.

These days with at least a few pipes costing five to ten grand it’s hard to say who can afford it and who can’t.  I’ve always thought that what goes into a pipe was always more important.  Some pipers have dedicated pipes.  Some for only aros and some for only English.  I have a single Dunhill that has seen both aros and English.  

Care for the pipe is what is most important.  That Dr. Grabow deserves the same care as that Dunhill.  I’ve never judged based on a pipe.  Frankly, I couldn’t care less.  I don’t own a Dr. Grabow, but I have a number of pipes that might be of equal value.  That white dot on a pipe meant something years ago.  And that diamond on a pipe usually meant something entirely different.  But it was not uncommon for a pipe smoker with a diamond associate with the smoker with a white dot.  Why?  They were both pipe smokers.

I’ll never be impressed by a pipe regardless of cost.  I’ll never degrade a person if one pipe is all they can afford.  I have my own tastes in tobacco.  I try not to be an English tobacco snob because I’ll sneak an aro from time to time.  I used to say I’m not an evangelist for pipe smoking, but maybe I am.  A pipe relaxes me and I meditate with a pipe.  

I’ve never owned a cob; not from disliking them or that they’re cheaper, but I always liked briar.  I own a few Meerschaums, but still like briar.  No one’s pipe is going to impress me one way or another.  I really don’t care what tobacco one smokes.  I’m too old for experimentation.  I’ve done all that and my next pipe just might be a Dr. Grabow pipe.  I smoke a pipe for two things:  Meditation and relaxation.  I’m just tired of thinking about what’s in my pipe.

My pipe journey is just about over.  I don’t need more pipes and I’ve found my tobacco.  It was a fun journey.  I just want to enjoy what I have and let others enjoy their journey as I have.  Mine is pretty much over.  But in my thinking a pipe is simply a tool and the tobacco matters most to me.  I have other things to think about than what’s in my pipe.  I say to everyone who smokes a pipe to just enjoy the journey.  It is a fun journey.  

I have to remember all I’ve learned along the way and not forget.  It’s like that with my Angels and in all I do.  My pipe this morning is my Nording Number 2 pipe with my Peter Stokkebye’s Proper English pipe tobacco.  Looks like I need to order a can of Captain black Original soon.  My coffee this morning is Joe from Trader Joe’s.   Thank you for your time and Peace and Love to each one of you.

Papa Chasteen