Have you ever had that heart-stopping moment when you see someone from your past? I felt that jolt at my new high school when I bumped into a girl I’d fallen for the year before. A whirlwind of nostalgia swept over me before reality hit when she turned out to be a stranger. Not long ago, I felt that same surge twice. It all started when I found a couple of my cherished pipes. Here, let me show them to you.

I love having cats around the house. Disco and Zulu have been a balm for my mental health in ways I’d never imagined! They’re more affectionate than any other cats I’ve met, and I find solace in caring for them and watching them go about their days. A lot of times, their days involve chasing one another. Unfortunately, the pursuit occasionally leads to disaster. 

My first brand-new pipe was a Peterson Irish Whiskey my Dad got me fourteen years ago. Traditionally, I smoke it when the holidays roll around, but last year felt different. Dad’s been gone for thirteen years, so I got my brother his own new Peterson in hopes of starting a new custom of our own. I bought one for myself, and I finally had a chance to smoke it…on Easter!

Christmas changes as we get older. For me, the holiday defined by childlike wonder and excitement has transformed into a more reflective experience. Things are much different this year, so I decided to cherish the past and start a new tradition at the same time: I got my brother a brand-new Peterson pipe.

I returned to the pipe-smoking hobby a few years ago and Nørdings were near the top of my “must buy” list. A mass-produced Erik The Red I paid something like $60 for was the first brand-new pipe I ever bought for myself, but things spiraled from there. My seventh was a Nørding Signature, but I didn’t buy it to smoke.

My dad loved Kapp & Peterson pipes. For most of his life, he believed they were the best his money could buy! I knew I needed a brand new Peterson when I got back into the hobby a couple years ago, so I got a Rhodesian 999 from the company’s entry-level series. It left much to be desired, but I gave the marquee another chance last fall with a Zulu 268. I struck gold, and it was thanks to a cat.

I occasionally write about tobacco pipes here, and I’ll admit to turning my nose up at a $68 pipe lighter. Just listen to this piece of marketing copy, courtesy of SmokingPipes: “Your lighter, like your choice of cuff-links or writing pen, communicates much about your discerning tastes to others. Let your new Kiribi Kabuto Short do some of the talking, others will get the message.”