| (December 15, 1996) |
Well, not really; after all , he's dead. Actually, I was smoking a Henry Clay the other day, and really enjoying it. After all, I had just finished my last final exam (Guffey's marketing management class) two days before it was due, and didn't have anything else requiring my attention for another four days—and all I had to do then was go home for the quarter break. So I decided I'd relax and celebrate with my friend Mr. Clay on the front porch of a friend's house, while he studied for his last exam.
And as I sat quietly and smoked by myself, my mind began to ramble. It seems like it always does when I'm engaged in some sort of solitary activity, and this was no exception. Most of it was just quick, unrelated musings only partially formed, but eventually my thoughts began to coalesce around one idea; the idea that right then, at that particular moment, I felt good. Relaxed. Content. Fully at ease. For that one half-hour, the only thing I had to concentrate on was my immediate surroundings; nothing else commanded attention.
Which brought to me another realization; one key, for me at least, to the enjoyment of a good cigar is the setting. And my setting was rather serene. The day was overcast but not gloomy, the air at about seventy degrees. I was on a large wooden front porch, one that made a deep, satisfying thump, thump under every footstep. The porch ran across the full front of the house and had a large overhang, and I was sitting in a glider looking out over the small, shaded front yard. Periodically I would get up from the glider and stand at the edge of the deck, lean against one of the small columns, close my eyes and draw gently on my cigar as a modest breeze blew by. It was wonderful.
Can you understand what I'm talking about? The cigar was still the focus and object of my activity; it was the reason I was in my particular surroundings in the first place. But the surroundings helped to amplify the pleasure I experinced. I could have been sitting inside a cold garage looking at four plaster walls and I would have enjoyed the same cigar just as much. But the experience would not have been nearly as remarkable. And since I can't smoke as often as I would like (stagnant cash flows and rising prices – but that's another tale), I try to optimize the experience as much as I can. Generally I like to be outside, with the weather fairly warm, and in the evening. Sometimes I like to be with friends; sometimes not. The mountains are a good place; the beach is better. But mostly, I let my mood dictate.
The past few years, I've found a few places around Auburn I like to smoke. This house is one of them. It's an old place (built around 1910) with not only a front porch, but also a back porch, both of them hardwood, covered, and as wide as the house. Both porches are perfect places on which to smoke. The roof over them is big enough that even during a driving rainstorm you can stand outside, smoke your cigar, and watch the drops fall while you're dry as a bone. My only worry is that one day I'll accidentally flick some hot ash on the deck floor and burn the house down. Not a good idea.
Another of my favorite settings is my old fraternity house. I don't go over there much any more (too old), but I lived there for four-plus years and found a couple of good spots to fire up a stogie. One area was the roof (of course), but that got to be too much of an ordeal; I was almost too short to climb up there without help and I'm deathly afraid of heights. Once you were up it was great, but the getting up and down was, for me, sheer terror. It definitely detracted from the relaxing aspect, so I usually opted for one of the other two places, either the fire escape or the front steps. The fire escape was on the side of the house; it gave you a good view of the street below, a brick wall to sit on, and a little sheltered, unobtrusive alcove where you wouldn't be noticed even though you were in full view of everybody on College Street. The front steps offered open air for clear weather or a large covered area for rain; you could step out on the front so you could notice and be noticed, or step back under the covering if you wished to be a little more discreet. The front steps were probably my favorite; it was the most convenient area. But the principal advantage of all three of these places was the fact that you were at a fraternity house. There was always someone available to smoke with you if you wanted to shoot the breeze.
The last couple of places I like around campus are various rooftops; I'll decline to name which ones in case the AUPD happen to see this and decide to lock the doors. The ones I'm talking about are wide, flat, and easy to get to; no scaling of walls like at the Fiji house. They're perfect if you and a few buddies want a place to go disappear and have a serious discussion; my friends and I have discussed many weighty matters over cigars on the rooftops around campus.
Now, let's remember, as wonderful as these places are, they're only the surroundings. The only reason they are so pleasing is because of the activity taking place within them. The stick, not the setting, is the thing. But we don't live in a vacuum. The environment sets the tone of the activity, so make sure it's conducive. Your first and continuing priority should be the cigar; find one you like and smoke it! But after that's handled, find you a place to smoke it!