A bunch of useless crap
Published on September 13, 2011 By MasonM In Blogging

Tonight finds me in Roseland, Indiana. Yesterday I picked up a snow removal truck headed for a small town in Maine.

This morning I made my way down from Wisconsin to western Illinois to pick up a pavement roller going to a town a little north of Boston.

The roller was supposed to be ready to load first thing this morning but when I got to the factory they weren't quite finished building it yet. It was after lunch before they finally had it done and ready to load.

Such is trucking.

I made it as far as Roseland and called it a day. I checked into the hotel here and walked over to the pub I normally visit just to find a sign posted on the door saying that they had a new owner and were closed awaiting their new liquor license. Bummer.

I walked down to an Irish themed pub about a half mile away. It turned out to be a good time. I had a very good corned beef sandwich, a few beers, and some interesting conversation, including a younger woman who asked me to look up, on my iPad, the status of her son who was in prison for robbery.

I kind of felt sorry for the mother, but let her know I didn't feel any sympathy for her son who had committed robbery on another person. She actually felt the same way, for which I liked her, but was understandably worried about her son. Once again I felt sorry for her.

Such situations can be very complicated.

She seemed like a very nice woman and we chatted for quite a while before she went home to her husband and other, younger son. Before she left she told me that some of of comments had cheered her up a bit. That is nice to hear.

After she left I chatted with a few fellow ex-military guys before emptying my pipe and filling it again for a final smoke, Frog Morton On The Town, and set out walking back to my hotel.

I have always found it interesting that when you are sitting someplace and enjoying a good pipe that people seem to be drawn to you if they need or want to converse.

What is it about a pipe that draws people into a conversation, even if they don't smoke one themselves?


Comments
on Sep 14, 2011

Pipe's make you look wise and learned!  When they get to know you, they find out the stereotype is correct in at least one case.

on Sep 14, 2011

Additionally I think pipes remind folks of their Grandad. I know that's what I think about. I put my pipes away when my Mom had cancer. Not out of fear mind you, but in sympathy to her quitting smoking cigarettes, and as a sign of solidarity with her plight. I still have my Peterson's, GBD's , Savinelli's, pots and free hands languishing in a trunk. I still have my love of the Briar. I still peek into the trunk every couple of months and make sure they are there, and let them know they are missed. I smoked a pipe for 20 years, and would start again today, but it's hard getting over why I put them down. My Mom passed away, and I haven't been able to smoke a bowl since. Do me a favor and smoke an extra one for me, when you get a chance. A nice Scottish mixture, or some 965, or early morning pipe.

on Sep 18, 2011

Dr Guy
Pipe's make you look wise and learned!  When they get to know you, they find out the stereotype is correct in at least one case.

  I think it makes people curious as pipes are not as common today.

on Sep 18, 2011

CygnusXII
Additionally I think pipes remind folks of their Grandad. I know that's what I think about. I put my pipes away when my Mom had cancer. Not out of fear mind you, but in sympathy to her quitting smoking cigarettes, and as a sign of solidarity with her plight. I still have my Peterson's, GBD's , Savinelli's, pots and free hands languishing in a trunk. I still have my love of the Briar. I still peek into the trunk every couple of months and make sure they are there, and let them know they are missed. I smoked a pipe for 20 years, and would start again today, but it's hard getting over why I put them down. My Mom passed away, and I haven't been able to smoke a bowl since. Do me a favor and smoke an extra one for me, when you get a chance. A nice Scottish mixture, or some 965, or early morning pipe.

Yeah, I have heard the "Grandpa" remark more than once.

 

Sorry about your mother, mine also passed away due to cancer. I'll smoke a bowl of Peterson's Irish Flake for ya.

on Sep 22, 2011

I had a beloved cousin who smoked a pipe and had a sail boat in Wisconsin.  I was young (13) and impressionable and thought it was romantic.  Never knew anyone else with a pipe until we ran into each other on the internet. It is ok........

on Sep 24, 2011
I think boats and pipes just go together. Long tradition and all that...