Quoting Sweet Lou:
"For the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth."
I had just wanted to trade a few cigars. I wasn't looking for charity or a free hand out. Well, let me tell you brothers and sister, these fine individuals have shown their true colors and character. And it's time I tell all and rat them out.
I'm usually not a big poster of messages. I do occassionally, but not too often. As a result, I know few folks here, but have read about the kindness and generosity of those who do frequent this web site.
Here's the sitch...
Yeah, I got laid off middle of January. Been looking, had some interviews, but nothing solid. As I'm looking over next month's cash flow, I decide to stop cigars, and put that money elsewhere. So....I put up my smokes on the trade board, asking for a couple (read one, two or maybe three) good quality sticks for my meager supply. Yep, let me get rid of the whole kit and kaboodle, because if I have 'em, I wanna smoke 'em.
Within 15 mins of that posting, Rob (rck_1) replies and tells me no problem, I'll send ya some smokes. No trade necessary, he just wants to help.
Greg Lowack (lowman) sends me an email about the same time wanting to trade 3 Cubans for 3 of my lowly sticks. If that's not a gift disguised as a trade, I don't know what is.
Long (choner), sends me an email, wanting to help. Next, so does Marla. Rudy (rudy1946), whom I've had the pleasure of meeting once, is next up, and he too promises "a few" ISOMs.
Mark (sumguy--which I haven't told him but I think is the gayest name I have ever seen) is a good friend that I've known for over 2 1/2 years. We worked together as peers, and giving each other crap is something I look forward to. He wants to meet at the Cloud, and give me a choice of what's in their humi.
And finally comes Charles (titlerep1). Tells me I suck, and rags on me for blithering on. Then says that he wants to buy me a few drinks and primos, and warns me that I'd better come empty handed, or he'll kick my a$$.
So then, the packages start to roll in.
First up is Long, who gives me 12 (!) good cigars, many of which I've never tried, like the Bucanero torp, a Hoyo de Monterrey dark sumatra that smells rich and chocolately, and most of the others as well. Dude, I was stunned when I saw how many great cigars you included. I can't thank you enough.
Then I get two the day before yesterday. Marla's and John's (jdrabinski) came banded together (and you'll like this John, Marla's was on top). Dude gives me a letter and 16 (!!) smokes. Thanks for the kind words, John. I appreciate them more than the leaf. John hadn't responded to me, so I have no idea where he got my address from. He just wanted to help out. And believe me, he did.
And then Marla, Marla, Marla.....Boys, let me tell you something. Leave it to a woman to show us how things are supposed to be done. Not in the gifting necessarily, even though she gave me CAO L'Anniversaire, CAO Black, AF Hemingway short story, and a Cohiba from a little island close (and south) to Miami. She includes a nice handwritten note on stationery (maybe lightly perfumed as well), and then apologizes because she thinks the Cuban wasn't up to snuff.
Yesterday, Greg's shows. Not the three Cubans he promised, but four. And Rob e-mails me with a tracking number. I can hardly wait.
Charles, Mark and Rudy still want to meet next week at the Cloud. Maybe also about kicking my a$$, but mostly about smoking and drinking. Talk about something great to look forward to.
A few days ago, I was feeling despondent and weary. Today, I'm writing this after sampling Marla's Cohiba (Ladies first and all...); which was smooth and spicy and absolutely wonderful.
Thank you. Thank all of you. This is not what I had in mind, and is very much more than I could have imagined. You all have my gratitude.
Stuart
