those sublime bowls

[Zeno Marx]

The title could very well have been "those elusive, sublime bowls". I wouldn't smoke a pipe if I didn't enjoy it so much. To give my situation some context, I smoke 3-5 bowls a week, and I'm always on walks and out in nature when I do so. It's a preference.

The question is: how often do you experience those truly sublime bowls? The type of pipe that you're thinking about for days afterwards. The type of pipe that incites you to explain the joys of pipe smoking to everyone, including those who couldn't care less. You might not do it, but you contemplate it over and over again because the enthusiasm won't leave your memory.

I have this top shelf level of experience 3-4 times a year. They're rare. They're unexpected. They can't be planned. I had one of these special bowls the other day, and nothing about it could have prepared me. Same circumstances as always. Even a tobacco that I had previously thought was nothing more than okay, and because of that, I seldom reach for it.

 

[Zanaspus]

I know exactly of what you speak. I smoke 4-8 bowls a day. If I'm lucky, I get one perhaps every fortnight.

 

[user 2031]

Very rarely indeed. When they happen you wonder what you did differently that made it so perfect, but alas, they never can be replicated. You just enjoy them when they happen. It seems all worthwhile pursuits share that same experience. I once hit an impossible shot from a fairway to within inches from the hole. It made me feel like a PGA pro that day. Try as I might, I could not ever hit another ball so perfectly... until one day without thought it just happens. Blissful serendipity!

 

[Zeno Marx]

I know exactly of what you speak. I smoke 4-8 bowls a day. If I'm lucky, I get one perhaps every fortnight.

That's often, if you ask me. Good on you.

 

[Jevverrett]

Happened to me on Monday, I keep a spare cob in the glovebox of my work truck. I packed it one handed and blind while driving down a backroad. Light it with a cigar lighter, bc it was the first I found in my lunchbox. One tamp, perfect smoke. Completely flabbergasted, I smoked it again on Tuesday. Same method, and it was awful. Go figure.

 

[Corncobcon]

I don't know if it has to do with the pipe and tobacco being smoked as much as what the situation is. Today, after 2 days of rain, the weather cleared up and the sun came out. It was about 6pm and I decided to take the dog for a walk and smoke. I chose my Gianni Calabash pipe and some Carter Hall. As we walked along the road, the air smelled clean a crisp. The only sounds were the tweeting of the birds and the raspy noise of an aggravated squirrel. I then realized that my pipe tobacco tasted exceptionally good. It must have been one of those sublime moments!

 

[Brewdude]

Serendipity. Happens every so often. Never really know why!

:!:


Cheers,

RR

 

[Zanaspus]

I know exactly of what you speak. I smoke 4-8 bowls a day. If I'm lucky, I get one perhaps every fortnight.

That's often, if you ask me.  Good on you.

When I smoked less I used to think it was time-gated. Now I think it's bowl-gated, i.e. it happens once in every so many bowls rather than every so many days. I could be completely off base, but that's been my experience.

 

[KevinM]

You can’t step in the same river twice. Or something like that.

 

[Natch]

Well said. I've had a few sublime bowls in my life, and I believe it has more to do with the mood I'm in and where I'm at, more than the pipe or tobacco. The ones that come to mind almost always involve being solo in the woods (canoe or pack) and a beautiful view (sunset, clouds, full moon).

Natch

 

[Ozark Wizard]

Well said.  I've had a few sublime bowls in my life, and I believe it has more to do with the mood I'm in and where I'm at, more than the pipe or tobacco.  The ones that come to mind almost always involve being solo in the woods (canoe or pack) and a beautiful view (sunset, clouds, full moon).  

Natch

Indeed!

 

[Fumus]

"Well said. I've had a few sublime bowls in my life, and I believe it has more to do with the mood I'm in and where I'm at, more than the pipe or tobacco. The ones that come to mind almost always involve being solo in the woods (canoe or pack) and a beautiful view (sunset, clouds, full moon). "

Yup :afro:

 

[Fr_Tom]

I will have a bowl every day or two that will be so astonishingly good, it almost takes your breath away. Every now and then I will have more than one bowl like this in the same day, but that is very unusual. My joke is that is the Surgeon General could have this experience, he would recommend pipe smoking just to improve the quality of life.

I umm... am a heavier smoker than some on the forum.

 

[Zeno Marx]

Been looking through the collection to get rid of the lesser smoked pipes. One on the table I've had for a couple years, and because it was bigger than I expected, I haven't smoked it much. Sort of the quintessential Italian billiard and a great looking pipe overall; just too damn big. I was also in a rush, but I thought I'd get the process rolling anyway. Packed only a half bowl. Distracted, mind elsewhere, and racing into the smoke, things quickly changed. Yep, one of those sublime bowls, and I recognized it right away. I was still in that rush mode in spirit, but I stopped the plans and settled into the smoke. Even the half bowl was perfect. Every puff entirely satisfying and noteworthy. I guess I won't be getting rid of this one too soon. 4-year old Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake was the co-conspirator.

 

[Ranger107]

Happened to me a couple of days ago. Decided to break away from my usual burley routine with a bowl of C&D Billy Budd in a cheapie Stanwell brushed black billiard. As I smoked a sense of calm came over me. The smoke was really good, guess it would qualify as sublime. Calm, peaceful, just watching the birdies flit about. Kind of a Zen thing.

 

[RSteve]

Every time I look at the title to this thread, it makes me laugh. When I read it for the first time, I thought it read "sublime bowels."