From: Joel Bloch <????????????????>

Steve,

I've been receiving the PD since your return from your honeymoon, and would
like to start off by offering you and the Mrs. my heartiest congrats.

I've been smoking since I was 13 (am now 49), but, unfortunately, I started
out with cigarettes, and only discovered the pleasure of pipe smoking many
years later.

Living in Israel, as I have for the past 27 years, I find myself rather
limited in the selection of pipes available, and with a rather small pipe
smoking population (most Israelis are cigarette smokers). There also don't
seem to be many real tobacconists in business, and so I'm limited as to
what's available as far as what to put in my pipe and smoke it goes.

I have, however, been able to build up a small collection of reasonably good
pipes over the years, including some locally made Shalom pipes and some
Petersons, the pride and joy of my collection being the 3 Peterson
Meerschaums that I own.

I've gotten used to the fact that I usually have to smoke my pipe by myself,
although it's always been my feeling that a good pipe is best enjoyed in the
company of at least one other piper, as there is never a lack of a subject
for conversation. Once you've discussed the weather, the local politics,
financial and job situations, you can always go on to the important stuff,
like pipes and tobacco. (I've never heard cigarette smokers have a
discussion about various brands of cigarettes - have you?)

Anyway, those are my thoughts for the moment. I enjoy getting the PD, and
always look forward to it.

Bye for now - Joel

[ Ah, but see Rev. Laszlo's Smokelist, referenced in the missive
immediately following! -S. ]


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