MYSELF - I am a fifth generation pipesmoker and senior citizen who's been at it since 1967. Most of the pictures I have of males in my family are with a pipe in their mouth. Whether in peace enjoying a family reunion, in the trenches of the Somme or Vimy Ridge, or at the airfields in England, Tunisa and Italy in WW II, all had pipes in their mouth or at hand.

LIFE WITH A PIPE - I was encouraged to take up the pipe by my father and both grandfathers as an alternative to the cigarettes they knew I was dabbling with. They believed cigarettes would hurt the level of fitness required of me while playing Junior Hockey and the other sports I loved. Neither my father nor grandfathers were habitual 'inhalers' as they were all very active and fit for their age. They suggested I follow suit and that taste and tingle in the mouth and nose were the real enjoyment of pipe tobacco and discipline was needed. I am thankful I never became an 'inhaler' as heeding their advice allowed me to enjoy the degree of fitness essential for trail running, mountaineering, ice & rock climbing, kayaking and canoeing on three continents and enjoy pipesmoking along the way whenever time allowed and location inspired. My pipe and tobacco were essential gear in my kit.

CHANGE -A drunk driver ended my active outdoor life when I was 59. I escaped the wheelchair but am handicapped a bit and restricted to 'limp mode' since. I find much comfort and consolation in pipesmoking as it's a bridge to family members long dead and to times more congenial than I currently live in. Memories like that mean a great deal to me.

I always enjoyed the pipe while actively engaged in physical work that allowed it -- an art in itself that takes time to 'get good at'. Whether splitting wood, strolling by the river or sitting on a hillside in the rain and wind, a pipesmoker should be able to enjoy a bowl come what may. The necessary skills are acquired through minute observation and the application, adaptation of, and honing of skills along the way.

TOBACCO - After a year of fiddling with artificially sweetened and flavoured tobaccos, I worked my way towards the natural leaf and blends of thise who taught me. It tokk some time to get the candy out of my system but I've stayed with Engish, Balkan, Oriental, Virginias and Scottish blends -- though I occasionally try a bowl of American-style aromatics my one pipesmoking friend prefers. I still find them less pleasant in every aspect (excepting the few with an understated pouch aroma) and find little of the unsmoked aroma that translates well to the taste buds and nasal passages. I have one pipe set aside for occasional use with aromatics.

PIPES - I prefer bent pipes. They stay out of my face, are less prone to damage (my teeth and the p[pe), put less pressure on my teeth and jaw and as such, allow me to free up both hands when working at something. I also enjoy the odd spell of 'doing nothing; and it's thosee times where the few well-made straight pipes of Canadian, Billiard, Apple and Bulldog designs which I use when simply sitting about with just a single, simple pleasure on my mind.
There is much said about using this type of pipe or that size of bowl to best enjoy a specific type, brand or cut of tobacco. My experience is otherwise. Most failures in keeping any pipe tobacco lit enjoyed come down to the airing, preperation and packing a tobacco rather than the choice of pipe. As my maternal grandafther expressed it "It's a poor tradesman that blames a bad outcome on his tools"

SMOKING - My regimen is 2 bowls per day though 1 is more common now with the insane tobacco prices in Canada. Pipesmoking is my sole luxury as groceries, rent, utilities and insurances take up almost all of my pension. I am fortunate to have 100-150 grams per month and will always believe my pipe tobacco is good company.