How are you doing?
I hope this note finds you well and content with everything. I don’t know about you, but as August draws to a close, my thoughts normally drift toward cooler mornings and shorter days.
However summer 2026 has thrown off my almanac! If it wasn’t for the return of the school bus passing by and the increase in conversations involving football, I’d think we’re still in the middle of July. We’ve had a bunch of wind, rain, thunder and lightning. I’ve hauled the
generator out more times in the last month than I’ve done in the past 3 years thanks to downed limbs all over the place. The same goes for the chainsaw. The foul weather’s given me the opportunity to get to know some neighbors better as we clear out the road from the occasional limb or tree. And I have always enjoyed cutting wood, but I’ve had my fill. There’s going to be a bunch of backyard fires this fall, that’s for sure. The grass certainly doesn’t mind. Mowing has usually slowed down by now, but the yard’s still coming on strong.
I shouldn’t complain, though. There’s been a bunch of flooding in the area and people have serious trouble. I believe a tornado actually touched down in Columbus a week or two ago. And even though autumn is unmatched in its beauty, especially after the rain we’ve had, I’m happy to have the warmest and brightest season linger a little longer.
My daughter and me on our epic road trip
The highlight of my summer has got to be the roadtrip I took with our daughter just days after the Columbus Show. She drove out to Devils Tower in Wyoming in May for an internship with the Montana Conservation Corps and the National Parks Service. Her hitch was up on the 13th of August, so I flew out to Rapid City so we could make the trip home together. The charm of the Black Hills was lost on her after working outside there all summer, but I’d never been, and I thought it was pretty cool. It was the second week of Sturgis, so that was cool to see, too.
We tooled around town that evening and ended up at the Tinder Box. This one’s like none other that I’ve seen, and if you find yourself in Rapid City you owe it to yourself to check it out. They don’t have a huge pipe tobacco selection, or collection of pipes to sell. But there’s a solid humidor with plenty of cigars to choose from, and a bunch of leather chairs and sofas to take a load off with your smoke. However, what sets it apart from the other franchises I’ve visited, is that it's a bar. A good old fashioned bar with live music, where you can smoke and drink. I figure there are still some states where you can do that, and God bless you if you reside in one, but Ohio cut out smoking indoors twenty years ago.
This was also my first opportunity to have a drink, (let's be honest... drinks) with my girl. She turned 21 this summer while out west. Now, she’s going into her senior year at Ohio University, so no one, (including her mother and I) should be under the impression that these were her first drinks. Nonetheless, it was great to share that evening together. We had a great time. We spent the next two days driving home catching up, recounting highs and lows, and reconnecting as a father and his adult daughter. I hadn’t forgotten how much I loved her, but I certainly was reminded of how much I do. Although I’m not all in on the adult bit. She’s still my little girl.
My wife Laura and I had a great time at this year's NASPC Show. I hope you had a chance to make it, and that you stopped by and said hello. The best part of any show is to shake hands and see friends and acquaintances I’ve made over the years. And I sold twelve of the fourteen pipes I brought along, which is also good!
Well that’s about it this time around. Enjoy the still pretty long days and mild evenings. Fall’s on her way. Till then, good luck with the work you have. I hope it's good for you. And I hope you can spend some time with the ones you love. That time is precious, and it’s a surefire way to recharge the batteries.
Sincerely,
Dan