Diplomacy

In Lindenau we do not have an embassy or any diplomatic representation, but in life we could all use a little more of it in our conversation. Some mornings it is so quiet one could hear an echo of words whispered in the hills. Learning the soft answer, like the quiet mornings, is an art. The diffusing of hostility and harshness is a pleasant result. In the quiet one can hear the birds and the cows lowing, as well as the sound of horses breathing.

Pleasant conversation and friendships are a joy that cannot be overvalued. Camaraderie around a meal or a fine stogie with good friends - to relax and share and listen. As Ed Cunningham has said "Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer". I was reminded by a friend that we are all frail, human, and on the same boat together. We all face aging, death, tragedy, sorrow, failure, and pain - as well as laughter, life, joy, birth, and success - among other things. There is nothing quite like sharing things together and reminding each other. Cigars are a terrific gathering point for times of joy, pain, and everyday life. There are celebration cigars, working cigars, and everyday cigars. To "Be still and know..." still remains our calling, as does a the need to have a regular escape from hectic life.

My cigar of choice for this fall leisure is the Camacho Diploma robusto. It is a very dark Honduran 5 1/2x50 puro "Authentic" corojo with a nice sheen and attractive wrapper. The cigar is exquisite with a nicely engraved regular band and a matching foot band - which were both hard to remove and the head band tore as it was removed. The taste had been strong and spicy to me in the past, but I found that this particular cigar had aged to a mellow almond creamy sweetness with floral notes. The peppery/spicy flavor had almost all mellowed, although I did taste it again at the last 1/3. It was a firm cigar with a nice draw and ample smoke. The finish was long, and retained the flavor and a rose like floral taste and a mint note was appreciated. The cigar is Honduran grown in the Jamastran Valley and made from the top-most leaves of the Corojo plant, known as the fifth priming, these leaves are the last ones picked giving them a deeper and richer taste.

With all the recent failed Olympic diplomacy, reminds me that we could use some Honduran diplomacy.