| I must proclaim my solidarity with the cigar aficionados. When I look back on my life so far, some of my most potent and meaningful memories are of the warm summer evenings I have spent with my husband sharing a good cigar, a cocktail, and conversation. We have formulated dreams, made plans, aligned our thinking regarding child rearing, worked our way through the stresses and complications of life, shared countless laughs, learned to understand each other on a deeper level, and learned to blow awesome smoke rings. There is something about the ritual, the camaraderie, the tradition of sharing a cigar that facilitates deep bonding and is thoroughly pleasurable. One thing that I have come to understand is that life will kill you. If the few dozen cigars my husband and I have shared through the years takes a half hour off my life, it was time very well spent. Like everything else, moderation is the key. We take very good care of ourselves and have taught our son to do the same. And, oh yeah, there will definitely be a very good cigar coming his way for graduation...this kid wants to be a SEAL, for goodness sake...an occasional cigar will be the least of his worries when it comes to potential threats.
No offense meant to anyone, just my two cents worth. |