Cigar Room

The cigar room. The cigar room has a full view of the lake. It holds two recliners and a leather love seat. A flat screen television hangs on the wall. Shelves of fancy booze line the walls. And ashtrays are found in a variety of shape and size.

My Dad's cigar room. My Dad built a 'cigar/booze room' in their home. It is perfectly ventilated, has its own door and even hosts a 'cigar room' sign. It is hands down one of the most comfortable and cozy rooms I have ever been in. A eclectic array of art is found on the walls and I have seen ten people packed in there at one time.

The cigar room. My Dad is the perfect host for his weekly 'cigar club'. He offers the nicest cigars and finest liquor. My Dad stopped drinking 30 years ago but he is a pleaser and firmly believes in serving his guests the best of the best. His cigars are hand picked. And everyone who enters know that they are welcome to anything on the shelves. At any time. Thus making his cigar room the favorite amongst all of his friends.

When we pulled into my parents driveway today, cigar club was just about to begin. So that meant our very close friends were at the house as well. We walked in and were met with hugs and hellos and excitement and most importantly, the feeling of 'coming home'. My Dad soon made the announcement, "Cigar club is starting now, whoever wants to join, come on into the cigar/booze room". My husband immediately made a bee line into the fabulous little room with the full window lake view. After a little bit of visiting, I sauntered on in to the cigar room and was met with the nostalgic smell of cigar smoke. I know, it is not a welcoming smell to most but for me, it reminds me of my Pop and of course, my Dad.

I grabbed a nice cold Jubelale and quickly realized that the cigar room needed to be my blip for today. I then began an hour long conversation with our very close family friend who also happens to be a professional photographer. It is amazing how much you can learn when talking to someone who is an expert with the camera both creatively and technically. His passion for photography began years and years ago when he used to help his Dad out in their family's darkroom. His interest began in that dark room and he has continued perfecting his skills ever since. I am so very lucky to have someone like him as a mentor. He is so passionate about photography and I can only hope that someday I will be able to take photographs of his quality.

So today, I dedicate this blip to my Dad and his best friend. Two men who have made in incredible impact in my life ever since I was a little girl. Two men who mean world to me. And a huge thank you to you both for 'modeling' this blip for me. It was the whole........ "Pretend to be natural. But you do this, and you do that......okay, I got it. Perfect!".