When I made the decision to become a cigar smoker, and it was a gradual thing as I tried pipes but they made

my teeth sore biting down on the tips. I never smoked cigarettes or chewed tobacco. (Yeah I know, I just lost

my redneck license) A friend said, "Why don't you try one of my cigars." This was about 1997, I kind of liked it but

it was hard to finish because I had to put it down to do job related work and relighting time after time did not

add to the taste. I found a small B&M in the downtown area and bought a bundle. Can't remember the name but

it was $27.00 for 25 sticks. I was at the quantity not quality part of my evolution. Then one day the proprietor of

the shop said to try a Curlyhead. Of course I said, "What’s a Curlyhead?" It was a $2.50 cigar. $2.50. So I

splurged and I bought one. It was great, I loved it. Told all my friends about it, but fell back into the quantity

thing. By the way, none of my friends were smoking anything better either. Then the fateful day arrived. I was

in the Mall with my girlfriend and she said, "Hey, there's a cigar shop, let me go buy you a cigar." We walked in

and the owner said, "Can I help you?" Before I could say, "Where are your Curlyheads?" My girlfriend said, "I

want to buy him a really good cigar, can you show us one?" The old man sort of eyed us up and down, figured

he would get the biggest sale he could out of us and said, "Oh yes, follow me." We walked to a room in the back

of the store; he opened a door and went inside. I wasn't sure if we were to follow him inside or not. You see,

the little B&M store from downtown didn't have a humidor; they stocked the boxes on shelves behind their

counter. The owner of the mall store stuck his head back out of the door and said, "In here, we have our cigars

in here." We walked in. Wow, box after box of cigars stacked to the ceiling on shelves. So many unfamiliar

names, so many sizes and shapes, I was completely lost. Once again my girlfriend spoke up, "Which one is your

best one?" The man turned to us kind of looking over the top of his glasses, he didn't say anything at first and I

was just about to show off my cigar prowess and blurt out, "Curlyheads!" He said, "Well, here are our Arturo

Fuente's." That was it, I thought, that was the name on the box of Curlyheads. But before I could say anything,

the old man reached up and pulled a cigar from a box high up on a shelf. "This is an Opus X, he said. My

girlfriend kind of giggled, "That’s a funny name." The old man just looked at us. "Is it your best one, said my

girlfriend." "I think so, he replied." Triumphantly my girl said, "I'll take it then." "Wait a minute, I said, how much

is it?" The old man showed us the price tag on the cellophane $15.00. “FIFTEEN DOLLARS?” Were my eyes

deceiving me, no way was I spending that kind of money on a cigar. But my girl was beaming and saying, "I told

you I was going to get you something special." "But honey, I started, that’s too much money." She wouldn't

hear it, "No, I'm getting you that cigar, it's my money and I want to do it." (God loves a good woman) The old

man rang us up and put the cigar in a plastic bag. I had the feeling he was sort of glad to get our money and

see us go, but he said, “Come back and see us again."

That night as my girl slipped into her bikini and swam her laps, I pulled up a chair by the pool looked up at the

stars and lit up the first of many great cigars.


That did it, that cigar turned the light on for me and from that moment on my life had changed.

I first started out, enjoying Middletons Black & Mild Pipe Tobacco Cigars, in 1997. I loved the aroma that these little cigars would give. About 1 year later in 1998, I discovered Edwards Cigar Chateau, in Jacksonville Beach, FL. (no relation to the current Edwards in San Marco). The third Saturday of the month, usually from 1-4 pm, they would have a cigar tasting called "BUTTS on the BEACH" featuring a certain cigar. Whatever participant could burn the longest ash, without the ash falling off, from the cigar, would win the contest. Since cigar ashes condense as they burn, the unburned portion of the cigar, was measured when the ash finally fell off and compared with the original length of the cigar. I always participated, along with my girlfriend at that time and was very successful in these longest ash contests. This was one reason why I have become a Cigar Connoisseur as well as attending my first JC. Newman Cigar Tasting and meeting the Great Cigar Expert "Henry Frampton". The first cigar I tried at that cigar tasting was a Cuesta-Rey No. 95 6.25"X42 which was excellent. Henry educated me very well about cigars. I also won a Diamond Crown three finger tan leather cigar case, from one of the winning raffle tickets. Meeting people and sharing the experience of being a Cigar Connoisseur, is what turned the light on for me, when I first started. I used to think cigars were high priced at $3-$4 per stick, but now I understand why and I am fine, with spending that amount, or even slightly more. I would like to close, by saying cigars are great, in ways that they can be complimented with foods and beverages such as steaks, coffee, espresso, wines and cheeses, just to name a few. I also appreciate all the accessories, such as the humidors, cases, cutters and lighters, which are works of art , that go along well with cigars.

David