Recently I have begun to smoke my pipes again. I started pipe smoking when I was in college, and stopped while going through seminary to become a chain cigarette smoker, and then I decided to quit smoking altogether. But now I have the urge to puff on the old pipe once in a while. The aroma is pleasing; the wafts of smoke are mysterious, and the pipe itself is an old friend. Pipe smoking has always struck me as being a very "Anglican" thing to do (i.e. C.S. Lewis to the left). Maybe its the antiquarian nature of our classical Prayer Book tradition. Smoking pipes or cigars in moderation is a wonderful, contemplative experience. I am fortunate to have a great tobacco store right up the street from the church that I can walk to.I am blessed to have amassed a nice collection of pipes over the years. For the longest time whenever I would travel to Europe a new pipe was the gift I would get myself. My favorites are my old Charatans (an English pipe); my gorgeous Ben Wade (Danish); and my Peterson "Sherlock Holmes" Series pipe - the Mycroft. I have some nice French pipes and a Dutch pipe too, as well as some inexpensive ones that have purely sentimental value. I would like to get a nice Savinelli at some point (an Italian pipe).
One thing that I have learned over the years in choosing pipes is that you have to pick one out that looks good on you. In other words, picking out a pipe is like shopping for a pair of glasses or a hat. What looks good for a short fat man (e.g. a classic "Bulldog" style pipe) may not look good for tall skinny guy. You have to choose a pipe that matches your face and build. I happen to like straight sandblast pipes. The few bent pipes I have do not look on me and don't feel right, even though they are quality, expensive pipes, but they might look great on other people.
So to all Anglican (and other) pipe smokers and aspiring pipe smokers out there, if you are going to invest a hundred bucks or so on a decent pipe make sure you take the time to pick one out that compliments your facial features. Take a mirror with you to the tobacco store so you get the right one.
