I was born in a small town in MO and raised primarily in Des Moines, IA. My beloved grandfather smoked a pipe;as did a family friend.Both in whom I saw many good qualities to emulate. During my teen years my mother had a job managing a store in a mall. Three doors down was a friendly tobacconist. I began smoking a pipe at around age 17. My pipe smoking lasted , the first time,until age 32 when I switched to chewing tobacco for convenience. I went to Drake University and earned my B.A. My graduate studies started there and continued at The University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (now Des Moines University). My work life has been spent in the mental health and healthcare fields. In 2000, I married a woman from a small town in AL and moved there. I have become active in the Masonic lodge (my lodge # is 398). Also, I am an Episcopalian. The head laypeople are the Jr. and Sr. Wardens (or Church Wardens). Hence, my login name. My priest(minister) and I serve on a committee at the state level. This gives us opportunities to travel together. He is a pipe devot'e. I started pipe smoking again. My favorite pipe style is the zulu or woodstock.