Cohiba ,Cognac, and Coltrane

I just spent the last hour and a half on my front porch, smoking a cigar and drinking brandy. It was just what the doctor ordered.

I have a few Cuban Cohibas in my humidor. I bought these particular cigars when I was in the Bahamas last year. The Churchill Cohiba is 7″ long with a ring guage of 49; it’s a big smoke and you have devote time to enjoy it. It’s wrapped in a nice brown Colorado Cameroon wrapper and is a medium bodied smoke with a hint of woodiness, hazelnut, and dry spiciness.

It was the perfect companion for my Godet Cognac. Godet cognac is an exceptional drink. Selection Special, 10 years old VSOP ages all 10 years in an oak casket and is slightly woody and mellow. It has a hint of hazelnut in the aroma and a an aftertaste akin to peaches with a very long finish. You warm the cognac in a brandy snifter for 10 minutes or more by holding in the palm of your hand. This activates and releases the wonderful flavor and aroma that Godet cognac is famous for.

Why am I waxing on about my drink and smoke, you ask? As most of you know I’ve recently been promoted at work. It has added a considerable amount of stress to my already fairly stressful life. I decided last week after experiencing a panic attack that I would no longer neglect the pleasures in life that I love.

I’ve been a cigar aficionado and whiskey drinker for a few years now. I bought my first cigar over 10 years ago when I was visiting Germany and have been hooked ever since. I don’t smoke regularly – tonight was my first cigar in over 4 months. When I do smoke, though, I enjoy it immensely.

Big Bad John turned me on to whiskey when we visited his hometown of Louisville, KY a few years ago. From there it was an easy progression to cognac, bourbon, and scotch.

It’s really important that we take the time for ourselves to enjoy life. When we go and go with no respite we burn out quickly and life becomes a task rather than an adventure. I got caught up and my panic attack last week brought me back to my senses.

I have intentionally put in only 4 hours of work this weekend. I left early on Friday. I am taking next Friday off. This is very difficult for the guy that wakes in the middle of the night and works for three hours. For the guy that was at the office until midnight 4 times the week before last.

So I drank, smoked, and thought about nothing and everything. I let my mind wander in creative free association, bouncing from thought to thought with no theme or conscious direction. It was wonderful. I looked at at the stars and marveled at the sight of Mars and Orion. I patted my dog on her head and let her lick my cheek. I listened to Coltrane play from my Pod player.

I’ve been a bit stressed and, truth be told, mildly depressed since Thanksgiving. I have great friends, a great job, and two wonderful children – but I think it hit me recently that I’m pretty fucking lonely. I don’t have that special someone in my life and I feel the lack.

I am not going to look for that “someone,” though. If we find each other – great. I really think that she’s out there waiting for us to serendipitously find each other. But I need to learn to more fully appreciate how lucky I really am and how wonderful my life is – if I just stop long enough to enjoy it.

Hence the Cohiba, cognac, and Coltrane.