I've had a bit of a run at things on this topic myself. Presently I consider myself an "former" cigarette smoker & dipper but I still have my momentary relapses. Other than that- I still enjoy the occasional cigar (which I absolutely refuse to give up completely) and I'm also a regular pipe smoker these days (imagine how that comes across here in 2025... but hey I've always did things my way).
I imagine I started smoking cigarettes as either a freshman or sophomore in High School (things were a bit different then, not exactly "accepted" but a blind eye was often turned by our 'elders'). In a lot of ways, I'd reckon that I started smoking (1) because it was still socially acceptable (if you went to a restaurant you would be asked smoking or non-smoking) and (2) most of the elders I looked up to (almost exclusively WWII Vets) all smoked like it was going out of fashion and on that matter (3) smoking was still very much a common thing on TV as well.
In a lot of ways- I did things... I'll say differently as I was all about the menthol cigarettes at the time. I'm pretty sure I started smoking Marlboro Milds (the blue pack years before legislation came down to alter how cigarettes were labeled). I eventually moved to Marlboro menthols (full flavor/green packs) but took a side route into smoking Camel Turkish Jades.. I still think about those even though they've been discontinued for likely over 20 years now.
At that time, it was fairly common to see gas stations offer "buy one-get one" type of deals and I ran the gamut I'd suppose. I loved my Turkish Jades and also Marlboro Menthols- but would often take advantage of the deals and would smoke Kool's, Salem 'Blacks' (they had a cool pack that slid sideways), and also Parliament's (the smoke with the recessed filter). Occasionally I'd smoke Newports (hey I went to HS in the inner city and sometimes that's all that was available). But primarily Camels & Marlboro's were my thing. Camel also came out with 'premier' type of smokes that came in a tin rather than a cardboard box and they had otherwise exquisite/other worldly flavors in that line for a short time before that got shut down by the government.
After HS, I somehow got introduced to dipping and supplemented my smoking with dips, at the time Kayak (I remember that being one of my first cans), but also Shoal & Grizzly (want to say peach was my preferred flavor there, but also enjoyed green apple). There was a berry blend (I seem to remember it being from Skoal) that just gave me absolute heartburn so that was short-lived but there was also a vanilla type of blend that caught my fancy. I also was smoking "cigars", quotations being that they were swisher sweets/Philly blunts/etc.
Shortly afterwards- I got lost navigating college and found myself wearing a uniform because (believe it or not) I was afraid I'd miss being able to participate in the 'war' that started after 9/11. I remember going through BCT & AIT and not being allowed any tobacco and it being hell but after months without it, as soon as I was able to, I went back into it without any reservations.
My 'tastes' had changed somewhat though- I now was enjoying non-menthol cigarettes (primarily Marlboro Reds & Camel Filters) and when it came to dip I was all about the Copenhagen (would argue with others about the 'born on date' on the cardboard half of the can, and we'd get it so fresh/like within a week). That was some good stuff there.
Most folks that were also wearing a uniform seemed to gravitate towards the snuff but I never could make that work for me so I was primarily a 'long cut' guy (at least until Copenhagen briefly introduces their 'black' line that was mid-cut which I also enjoyed the hell out of.
Eventually I deployed and got what I was chasing after and dip became a crutch just to stay awake often times. I was also fully exploring chew- I remember before enlisting trying mail pouch tobacco which was just 'bleh' but Levi garret & southern pride (?) that was some tasty stuff there (and inexpensive). While deployed I was also introduced to 'good' cigars, real cuban long leaf type and that's where I fell in love with those/quality cigars in general.
Fast forwarding- I had enough of wearing a uniform and got out when my contract was over. I pretty much gave up on the chew (mainly because my situation had changed) but kept up with the Marlboro's/Camel's & Copenhagen. I eventually started dating locally and as odd as it sounds- I quite literally accidentally 'gave up' the Copenhagen because the lady I was courting didn't care for it and I was rather smitten with her (I eventually ended up marrying her) but it was never an intentional choice to stop enjoying Copenhagen, just one of those things that happened.
Cigarettes however- that's a different story all together. Long story short- I've quit at least a half dozen times and presently I tend to stick with smoking a pipe regularly and having the occasional cigar. BUT- anymore, although I say I've quit cigarettes, at least 2 or 3 times a year since then I cave and just have to give into whatever stressor is going on and buy a pack or two. It's gotten a bit harder to resist now that Lucky Strike cigarettes are back (and I have history with those).
But it is what it is I suppose- but one of the things that shocks me is I know cigarettes were never all that amazing and were primarily just an addiction (same with the dip/chew) but I can go months without any of it but still dream about smoking/dipping/chewing. Just strikes me as a bit crazy.
Anyway- that's my cliff notes about tobacco- just curious if anyone else had any similar stories is all.
-LD
I imagine I started smoking cigarettes as either a freshman or sophomore in High School (things were a bit different then, not exactly "accepted" but a blind eye was often turned by our 'elders'). In a lot of ways, I'd reckon that I started smoking (1) because it was still socially acceptable (if you went to a restaurant you would be asked smoking or non-smoking) and (2) most of the elders I looked up to (almost exclusively WWII Vets) all smoked like it was going out of fashion and on that matter (3) smoking was still very much a common thing on TV as well.
In a lot of ways- I did things... I'll say differently as I was all about the menthol cigarettes at the time. I'm pretty sure I started smoking Marlboro Milds (the blue pack years before legislation came down to alter how cigarettes were labeled). I eventually moved to Marlboro menthols (full flavor/green packs) but took a side route into smoking Camel Turkish Jades.. I still think about those even though they've been discontinued for likely over 20 years now.
At that time, it was fairly common to see gas stations offer "buy one-get one" type of deals and I ran the gamut I'd suppose. I loved my Turkish Jades and also Marlboro Menthols- but would often take advantage of the deals and would smoke Kool's, Salem 'Blacks' (they had a cool pack that slid sideways), and also Parliament's (the smoke with the recessed filter). Occasionally I'd smoke Newports (hey I went to HS in the inner city and sometimes that's all that was available). But primarily Camels & Marlboro's were my thing. Camel also came out with 'premier' type of smokes that came in a tin rather than a cardboard box and they had otherwise exquisite/other worldly flavors in that line for a short time before that got shut down by the government.
After HS, I somehow got introduced to dipping and supplemented my smoking with dips, at the time Kayak (I remember that being one of my first cans), but also Shoal & Grizzly (want to say peach was my preferred flavor there, but also enjoyed green apple). There was a berry blend (I seem to remember it being from Skoal) that just gave me absolute heartburn so that was short-lived but there was also a vanilla type of blend that caught my fancy. I also was smoking "cigars", quotations being that they were swisher sweets/Philly blunts/etc.
Shortly afterwards- I got lost navigating college and found myself wearing a uniform because (believe it or not) I was afraid I'd miss being able to participate in the 'war' that started after 9/11. I remember going through BCT & AIT and not being allowed any tobacco and it being hell but after months without it, as soon as I was able to, I went back into it without any reservations.
My 'tastes' had changed somewhat though- I now was enjoying non-menthol cigarettes (primarily Marlboro Reds & Camel Filters) and when it came to dip I was all about the Copenhagen (would argue with others about the 'born on date' on the cardboard half of the can, and we'd get it so fresh/like within a week). That was some good stuff there.
Most folks that were also wearing a uniform seemed to gravitate towards the snuff but I never could make that work for me so I was primarily a 'long cut' guy (at least until Copenhagen briefly introduces their 'black' line that was mid-cut which I also enjoyed the hell out of.
Eventually I deployed and got what I was chasing after and dip became a crutch just to stay awake often times. I was also fully exploring chew- I remember before enlisting trying mail pouch tobacco which was just 'bleh' but Levi garret & southern pride (?) that was some tasty stuff there (and inexpensive). While deployed I was also introduced to 'good' cigars, real cuban long leaf type and that's where I fell in love with those/quality cigars in general.
Fast forwarding- I had enough of wearing a uniform and got out when my contract was over. I pretty much gave up on the chew (mainly because my situation had changed) but kept up with the Marlboro's/Camel's & Copenhagen. I eventually started dating locally and as odd as it sounds- I quite literally accidentally 'gave up' the Copenhagen because the lady I was courting didn't care for it and I was rather smitten with her (I eventually ended up marrying her) but it was never an intentional choice to stop enjoying Copenhagen, just one of those things that happened.
Cigarettes however- that's a different story all together. Long story short- I've quit at least a half dozen times and presently I tend to stick with smoking a pipe regularly and having the occasional cigar. BUT- anymore, although I say I've quit cigarettes, at least 2 or 3 times a year since then I cave and just have to give into whatever stressor is going on and buy a pack or two. It's gotten a bit harder to resist now that Lucky Strike cigarettes are back (and I have history with those).
But it is what it is I suppose- but one of the things that shocks me is I know cigarettes were never all that amazing and were primarily just an addiction (same with the dip/chew) but I can go months without any of it but still dream about smoking/dipping/chewing. Just strikes me as a bit crazy.
Anyway- that's my cliff notes about tobacco- just curious if anyone else had any similar stories is all.
-LD
