101

 

Soon, in the latter part of November will be my Dad's Birthday.  If he were still living, he would be turning 101 years old.  Last year, on his 100th Birthday, I broke my pipe fast and went to visit the cemetery where he is buried.  It was a valuable time for me.  I sat and talked to him and smoked a beautiful bowlful of Iwan Ries "Three Star Blue" pipe tobacco while there.  

I am starting to contemplate how to approach this, his 101st Birthday.  Originally, I was thinking I would most assuredly want to smoke my pipe and had been contemplating smoking a pipe at the "Retiree's Cigar Group" on the date that was closest to his Birthday.  I am not sure if that will be my plan or not.  In some ways I think it would be appropriate and fitting to do so there, but at the same time, it is also really not a "pipe gathering" and I would potentially feel "out of step" or at least quite conspicuous in deviating from the group's routine.  And, the day of the group is not actually on my Dad's actual Birthday.  But, I am still considering this.

Alternatively, I was considering a type of repeat with last year, in my going out to the cemetery, and taking a folding chair, and quietly spending time there (even though it will likely be very cold, perhaps below freezing) and again smoking my pipe and chatting with my Dad.

If I do go to the cemetery as described above, I would also want to decide beforehand if it would be appropriate or not to attend the Retiree's Cigar Group that week as well.  I do enjoy the Group a lot.  But, perhaps having both a pipe AND a cigar in the same week could be a bit worrisome in terms of that potential "slippery slope" I keep worrying about.  I have to try to reason through this a bit more.  Technically and "emotionally" the pipe and cigar are two wholly different beasts.  The pipe is sublime and infinitely superior  in ways that I am unable to cognitively describe.  The cigar is pleasant, and the Group's company is delightful, but the cigar is in no way equivalent to a pipe.  Yet, both ARE tobacco... so there lies the conundrum of sorts.  

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I just realized that with this being my father's upcoming 101st Birthday, that it is interesting to note that he was part of the 101st Airborne Division in World War II.  He was part of the Invasion of Normandy, and this is where he was injured in battle (shot) and earned a purple heart.  Although his war experiences were almost never discussed, and therefore my experience of him is just as my Dad.... I do have his medals framed in my home.   

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