bpj87
Go Bulldogs!
One week ago marked my one year anniversary on this community that we all call home, Cigar Pass. Incidentally, this is also another milestone, my 1000th post. I have not had the chance to be all that active on the boards lately due to my school schedule, but let this post signify my return. 
As a small way of giving back to CP, I'd like to share some of what I have learned during my first year here.
1. Let's start with the most important part first: Cigar Pass is so much more than a mere forum. In just a single year, despite not having met them face to face, I have made a great number of friends through CP. By participating in passes, trades, GBs, and sales, many of which occurred behind the scenes, I have connected with BOTLs from all over the world and established wonderful camaraderie in the process. We don't just talk cigars at CP; we are a family.
2. Taking one's time getting into cigars is crucial. As one of the few who managed to avoid CBid in my early days, I instead turned to CP for help in building my knowledge and collection. The help of the members and archives were pivotal in guiding my first purchases, leaving me now with only what I want and a large collection of singles to try. In short, start slow, do your homework, and allow your tastes to evolve through smoking as many singles as possible.
3. Construction is key. Thank you Fuente, Padron, Tatuaje, et al. :love: You are doing better, Fidel. :sign:
4. Cuban vs. non-Cuban is a non-issue. There is so much to try out there that it would be a shame to limit one's smoking to CCs. An analogy: "I only drink the wine of the French, as they make the best wine." Not only would doing so be limiting and become monotonous, but to also say the wine/cigars of one nation are the best is ridiculous. Just as France vinifies everything from swill to the transcendent, Cuba offers cigars of all quality levels. Objectively great quality exists everywhere, and the joy of cigars is experiencing all of the diverse profiles available. Additionally, see #3 above. :whistling:
5. Smoke your best sticks. I was as touched by the message left with us by Brian, and I am smoking accordingly. A list of my most recent smokes would include HTF Fuentes, '98s, ELs, etc. In other words, a special cigar is an occasion in and of itself. You will always have the chance to acquire more HTF sticks, and I'd certainly rather live with the memory of smoking that amazing cigar than stare at it indefinitely as it rests in the humidor.
6. Listen to and respect the FOGs. Every few months, I learn something new about the workings of CP that I would never have previously considered. Following this to its logical end, we realize that the FOGs know quite a lot about CP. If ever I am confused about one of their actions in a matter, I eventually realize the good reason for why it transpired as it did.
I hope this helps some of our newest members. Why don't we open this up to all, such that we can post what we've learned in our times at CP, no matter how long or short they have been? I'd like to extend a big thank you to Rod for bringing us CP and to all of the members for making CP such a spectacular community!
:thumbs:
As a small way of giving back to CP, I'd like to share some of what I have learned during my first year here.
1. Let's start with the most important part first: Cigar Pass is so much more than a mere forum. In just a single year, despite not having met them face to face, I have made a great number of friends through CP. By participating in passes, trades, GBs, and sales, many of which occurred behind the scenes, I have connected with BOTLs from all over the world and established wonderful camaraderie in the process. We don't just talk cigars at CP; we are a family.
2. Taking one's time getting into cigars is crucial. As one of the few who managed to avoid CBid in my early days, I instead turned to CP for help in building my knowledge and collection. The help of the members and archives were pivotal in guiding my first purchases, leaving me now with only what I want and a large collection of singles to try. In short, start slow, do your homework, and allow your tastes to evolve through smoking as many singles as possible.
3. Construction is key. Thank you Fuente, Padron, Tatuaje, et al. :love: You are doing better, Fidel. :sign:
4. Cuban vs. non-Cuban is a non-issue. There is so much to try out there that it would be a shame to limit one's smoking to CCs. An analogy: "I only drink the wine of the French, as they make the best wine." Not only would doing so be limiting and become monotonous, but to also say the wine/cigars of one nation are the best is ridiculous. Just as France vinifies everything from swill to the transcendent, Cuba offers cigars of all quality levels. Objectively great quality exists everywhere, and the joy of cigars is experiencing all of the diverse profiles available. Additionally, see #3 above. :whistling:
5. Smoke your best sticks. I was as touched by the message left with us by Brian, and I am smoking accordingly. A list of my most recent smokes would include HTF Fuentes, '98s, ELs, etc. In other words, a special cigar is an occasion in and of itself. You will always have the chance to acquire more HTF sticks, and I'd certainly rather live with the memory of smoking that amazing cigar than stare at it indefinitely as it rests in the humidor.
6. Listen to and respect the FOGs. Every few months, I learn something new about the workings of CP that I would never have previously considered. Following this to its logical end, we realize that the FOGs know quite a lot about CP. If ever I am confused about one of their actions in a matter, I eventually realize the good reason for why it transpired as it did.
I hope this helps some of our newest members. Why don't we open this up to all, such that we can post what we've learned in our times at CP, no matter how long or short they have been? I'd like to extend a big thank you to Rod for bringing us CP and to all of the members for making CP such a spectacular community!
:thumbs:
