Seeing how I felt the need to share my knowledge on cigars with you, I also feel you deserve to hear the story of how my love for cigars began. Believe it or not I despised smoking for most of my life. I hated cigarettes with a passion. They smelled gross, made you look unattractive, and induced long term health problems. However despite my disdain for cigarettes, I did have a secret interest in cigars. They were just different for some reason. Little did I know what was about to unfold.
The Seed.
My ventures began about May 2008, I was about 27. I had just started work with a new company and they were holding their annual Golf tournament for their biggest clients. A friend and coworker of mine, Chris, was helping setup the golf carts we would be driving to deliver water to the players. While getting ready, I noticed Chris kept a black box very close to him. What was so precious in this box? He walked down to the gathering area and did what he does best, schmoozed the clients with is little black box. I watched as he walked from cart to cart not knowing what he was handing out. He came back up the hill taking a seat next to me and asked "Have you had a cigar before, Tom?" I hesitantly said "no, but I've always been curious." He then took a cigar out of the mysterious black box, clipped it, and handed it to me. It was a Connecticut shade torpedo. If memory serves me correctly, I believe it was the Rocky Patel Edge Lite. But being a total newb, I really had no idea what I had in my hands. He than told me to start puffing on it as he preceded to light it for me. Being a hobby that requires some getting used to, I couldn't tell you what my feelings were about my very first draw though a seed had been planted.
The Catalyst.
Since that day, when I first smoked that Connecticut Torpedo, I never really bought many others. I had them here and there but only at parties which were few and far between. It wasn't until my Birthday, December 2010, that my wife (fiance at the time) got me my first humidor as a gift. That was the catalyst. I finally had something nice to keep cigars in! Me being me, I dive into every hobby I begin so I became a student of the leaf, as they call it. Learning everything I can to understand more about the hobby I've truly come to love.
The birth of Cigar Times
My blog was never always called Cigar Times you know. As a matter of fact it wasn't until I picked up photography that Cigar Times really came to be. My blog once had the humble name Flint For Thought. It encompassed much of what you see today but it never really caught on. So I left it on the shelf. A few years had passed and I saw a post on Facebook from the Padron family regarding a photo competition on Instagram. I was in! I went to the B&M and bought some Padron cigars and starting shooting them with my phone. The competition had gone on for a week and they would pick three winners a day. I was convinced I would win at least one. However, after a dozen photos and a hand full of likes, the competition ended and I hadn't won a thing. I was so frustrated. Granted looking back at those photos, I chuckle remembering I thought they were really GOOD! They really WEREN'T! Nonetheless, I slowly developed a following as I kept taking pictures of cigars. 6 months had gone by and my personal IG following wasn't growing. So, I started Cigar Times. A dedicated Instagram profile for cigar photography. Inspired by some great cigar photographers on IG, I was determined to get better and I did! I won my first photo competition three months later and then two more shortly after that. And since the CT re-branding my following and respect in the community has grown. I truly appreciate all my friends and followers support. If it wasn't for them, this wouldn't be worth doing. Thank you!
After Cigar Times took off, I felt the need to rekindle my blog. The poor Flint For Thought page was in need of a make over. So I adorned it with my new trademark and here we are! I still have no real focus for the blog other than sharing tips, unique cigar finds, and great deals that I come across. We'll see where it goes! Thanks for taking the time to read this. I do hope you enjoy the blog!
Tom
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