Here we are in the first part of June, and we finally had two consecutive days in the 80s here in the middle of Ohio. I don’t know if you’ve heard it this year, but I always get tickled when folks say, “We didn’t even have a spring,” on the first couple of hot days.
I was out with Laura and my dad at lunch two Sundays ago when I overheard a conversation at the table behind me. A man said, “They say it’s gonna get up to near 90° later this week.” Then a woman at the table said it—“We didn’t even have a spring this year!”
Maybe they were in from out of town.
Don’t get me wrong. We’ve certainly had a few years where summer shows up early after just a couple of weeks of mild days and cool, rainy nights. One of those years is burned (pun intended) into my memory: we had been married about a year and were renting an upstairs apartment in a two-up/two-down place in Columbus. It had “charm,” if you get my meaning. It did not have AC. Around May that year, it got hot and humid, day and night. Every evening, I’d take the coldest shower I could stand and jump immediately into bed, trying to get to sleep before my blood returned to a boil.
Fortunately, super-early and short transitions like that have been few and far between, and this has been a banner spring here. Winter was tame on its way out, and we’ve had plenty of mild days with cool nights, along with lots of rain in the past month or two. I feel an energy return with the season as the trees flower and the woods green up—absolutely beautiful.
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In early May, I had the opportunity to visit my friends Will, Mike, and Richard at the Gatlinburlier in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Richard had stopped by my table at the Muletown Show and encouraged me to bring some pipes to their shop to sell. I must say, I was honored to get the invitation. I love that place!  It goes without saying—if you find yourself down in the Smokies, it’s a must to swing by the Gatlinburlier. Great selection of pipes from local and far-flung artisans, a well-stocked humidor, and some fantastic in-house tobacco blends. I enjoyed a couple there with the guys and picked up some Gatlin Burley and Not No Local. Delicious!
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I put together a new series exclusively for the Gatlinburlier called Gatlinbriar to celebrate a very cool, old-school pipe shop on the edge of a favorite, familiar national park. I plan to release more in the series that can only be found there. It will be just awful making a trip down their way a few times a year (wink, wink), but I can handle it.
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Life has thrown a few curveballs our way over the past several months, and I haven’t been in my shop nearly as much as I’d like—but the seas are showing signs of calming down. As the longest day of the year approaches, I appreciate the early sunrise, the warm late twilight, and the comforts of home, family, and friends that mean so much to me. I’m thankful for the time I get in this life to do what I love and share it with you.
New pipes are on their way! In the meantime, hug your wife and kids and tell them you love them. Call your folks and tell them, too. Wave hi to a neighbor. Compassion is contagious! And just as important, take care of yourself. Light a pipe, sit back and relax, and welcome in the summer.
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