I worked for an advertising firm, representing a large candy company. A meeting was called to try to get the candy company to increase their budget. We met with the president who didn’t want to spend more money, after a very long meeting, which he stood firm. We all went to lunch and then back to his office. He had a beautiful humidor on his desk and offered a cigar. I accepted. He looked at me and his expression told me he didn’t believe I was a cigar smoker. He then offered me his cutter. I declined and took out my own, which was on my key chain. He looked at me and said “anyone who smokes cigars is honest, you have your budget increase”

–Leonard R.

I grew up in a little town in rural Pennsylvania. We lived in a small house, deep in the woods, and from early age I was used to the surrounding wildlife. I enjoyed listening to the Turkey calling at dawn, and the wolves wailing at dusk but I was not prepared to the following encounter which happened several years ago.

My Dad picking me up one Feb. morning to go trout fishing in Western NC. Riding to our local fishing spot we fire up our La Glorias saved for such an occasion. We had an inch of snow or so overnight, and there was fog frozen on all of the trees. As we arrive and get out of the truck, string and bait our poles, the sun peeks over the ridge. We walk down to the creek smoking our cigars and talking quietly, to stand at the fishing hole.