The Cigar, Man’s Other Best Friend.

People often ask me, “Why do you smoke cigars?” It’s a fair question, and one that requires a bit of introspection. Some of us smoke because it’s a habit, while for others it’s a passion that stimulates not just our senses, but our intellects as well. For whatever reason, cigar smokers don’t simply like cigars, but are devoted to them. Now the question becomes not “Why do we smoke cigars”, but rather “Why do we love cigars?” It’s uncanny how cigar smokers put this passion above almost anything else.

There are myriad reasons why we love our cigars, and the rewards we get for smoking vary depending on our circumstances. But recently, cigar smoking had taken a roll in my life that served me in a singularly profound manner. Looking back I can now see how great that benefit was, and how that simple cigar got me through some very challenging times.

The circumstance.

For the last few months, my world had become very small; my wife was bedridden with a debilitating kidney/bladder infection. This had been building gradually over years, with doctor after doctor not knowing the source of her ailment. Eventually the pain got so great, she had to stop working, and spend her time in bed desperately trying to cope. It was awful to witness, and I did whatever I could to support her. For months I did very little except minister to her condition. Theater tickets went unused, socializing became a thing of the past, and dining out was a fantasy of something we may never do again. We were desperate for any sort of relief, and a cure seemed like an illusive concept, something we simply couldn’t grab hold of.

Finally, we got a referral to Dr. Gerhard Fuchs. He runs the Urology department at Keck Medicine of USC, and has an office near our home. His specialty is kidney stones, and one look at my wife’s CT scan was all he needed. The stone in my wife’s kidney was over 3 cm, 3 CM! That’s almost the size of a ping-pong ball. The good news was that he assured us this was her problem; the bad news was to remove it would require surgery (percutaneous nephrolithotomy). But after what she’d been through, this was welcome news.

Tillie was always there for us.

I’ll spare everyone the gory details, but two surgeries later, five weeks of IV antibiotics, and other complications; my wife is actually feeling like her old self. She’s tired from the experience, and needs to get back her stamina, but she is working again, and on the road to a full recovery. It feels like a miracle. But what does that have to do with cigars?

My salvation.

Caring for my wife was a full time job, and emotionally demanding. Keeping her spirits up was the highest priority, and a constant challenge. Our friends were very supportive, but we had little energy to talk. Text messages were our lifeline to the outside world. Throughout this ordeal, two things were our constant companions, our small dogs Daisy and Tillie, and, for me, my cigars. The dogs were with my wife on the bed 24/7, giving her the love and affection as only they can, while the hour I spent each day with my cigar provided me with comfort, relaxation, meditation, and reflection. What would I have done without the support of those “friends”? The time I spent smoking gave me a respite from my emotionally draining existence. It gave me time to think, and to put things into perspective. The pleasurable effect of the cigar provided a positive mindset that helped me gather my thoughts and maintain equilibrium. Sometimes, it simply took my mind off of my reality. It was medication for my soul, and looking back I realize that each cigar I smoked was a true companion.

A good cigar is always a pleasure, but in time of need, can be so much more. Had a bad day; a good cigar can instantly change your mood. Your back is sore; a favorite cigar can ease the pain. A box of fine cigars is a source of many memorable moments, and like a group of friends, can be there in time of need. My cigars were good company when I needed a friend, and they never let me down. And now that life is getting back to normal, we can all get together to celebrate the close of a very tough chapter in my life. Going forward, my cigars will always be there for the good times and the bad, loyal to the end.

Thanks for listening,

Joe