Sounds like an ominous title, but I wasn't quite sure how to broach the topic.

Got some rather sobering news from my doctor today that if I don't stop smoking and drinking now, that I probably won't make it past 60 years old. Which hit close to home, seeing as how both my father and his father died at 61 years old from heart issues. Apparently, after putting all the pieces together, there is quite the history of heart disease, heart failure and heart attacks on my father's side of the family, with most of the men not making it to 70.

I certainly abused my body in the past (especially in my crazy 20s) with excessive alcohol, cigarettes and pot. I thought maybe cigars would be a better alternative, but the doctor noticed some irregularities with my heart (elevated heart rate and blood pressure, as well as the possible start of atrial fibrillation).

I waited 30 years to find the right woman and get married for the first and only time in my life, so I need to make some drastic changes in my life to ensure I have as long as possible with her, and hopefully outlive my dad and grandpa.

I've decided to heed the doctor's warning and my wife's pleading, and quit smoking and drinking for good. I've made great friends here, and hope that me NOT smoking won't stop us from remaining friends. I may possibly have one cigar a year on my birthday.

It's a difficult decision to make, but I need to make sure I'm around for as long as possible.

I know I'm part of the October Box Pass that was put together by the wonderful SirKnight, and want to remain a part of it. Therefore, my contribution will be all "Puts" and no "Takes".

I'm not sure what I will be doing with my collection, especially since I just got a fantastic n00b PIB from Corey Sellers, not to mention ALL of the sticks I've received during my time here from ALL of you amazing friends! I could split the collection up into "fivers" (who am I kidding, we don't know how to count for schit here) and mail them out to everyone on here I have address for. Or I could hold onto them and age them considerably, and have more than enough to last me for the rest of my life.

I treasure all of you, and appreciate the education I've received and the friendships I've made during my time here.

I know what you mean. Cigars were my way of forcing myself to stop and be still, enjoy an hour and a half of "me time". Glad to hear that you've had improvement with your issues!

Thanks for your understanding and compassion, my friend! Certainly a sad and sucky turn of events....but I gotta do what's right for my health and longevity. As people keep telling me, my health is the number one priority.

Bad news, CtC, on the one hand...

but long term, great news, since this gives you a blueprint to avoid the traps that took your male family members

quality of life is important, and if it means no cigar smoking, so be it...

Also, it occurred to me that you made no mention of even trying to negotiate with the doctor.

I mean, what would he have said about higher quality cigars less frequently? Like, maybe a prescription for PAM64s or Liga #9s, taken once a month?

All I am saying is that everything is negotiable.

I'd get a second opinion.... do we have any doctors that post here..?? Where's DMV..??

Hmm, not quite.

Back in the day I worked in a hospital as a patient transporter. We did all the mundane things for doctors, nurses, administrators, etc. Anyway, one of the "mundane" things we sometimes had to do was to take an expired patient to the Chapel or the morgue...no negotiations there.

No one gives a $hit if you actually smoke cigars or not. I mean look at Drafter...all he smokes is pole and we let him stay

Haha! On taking them, yah, maybe could have...but still no negotiations for the patient.

Common sense wins. Wishing you continued success my fellow Cbidder. 👍

Wait a minute - did you tell the doctor you had nine lives ?

He's got a point.

So much THIS!

True... true...

Yep, all about risk and reward.

You can smoke and drink every day die all at once or not so slowly.

On the other side of the discussion, there has never been a successful doctor. Everybody born prior to 1900 is dead. A 0% effective cure rate for Life.

You could drink 200 ounces of water, work out 7 days a week, go vegan and vegetarian, eat a bag of carrot and celery sticks, and hummus, chitting five times a day and you could live to be 100.

Sure, all your friends will be dead- most of them in Heaven, and your grand kids only visit you in the nursing home twice a year since you first moved in on the day after your 89th birthday- that was 10 years ago. Catheters are part of your everyday routine.

I mean..... Good decision. I 100% support what you are going for.

Plus, you'll get the last laugh when I have my first stroke within 18 months, and I'm still alive and my wife dumps me in the nursing home. So there is that.

Good luck, Carson.

I would say, double down and get on good diet and exercise every day.

If TW couldn't drink or smoke he'd whack it ten times a day...

yiddishe kop right there.


Red Auerbach to KC Jones after hiring him to coach the Celts...
Dress Brittish
Think Yiddish


catguy, be smaht. you know the deal.
Any good genetics from your mom's family?

No. A gifted cigar is yours once received. You can smoke, save, send, sell or (if not properly humidified) use as a lawn jart.

Good wishes for you and your heart.

Gurkhas = lawn dart

Keep them and age them or send some to the troops . I will add my 2 cents for what it's worth. My grandfather had a pacemaker put in his early 70's he lived to be 91.My dad had a double bypass and he died at 67 but it was not from his heart it was leukemia that got him. I was put on blood pressure medication in my 30s .While pops was going through the cancer issues I decided to lose weight and I dropped 50lbs . Know I take a half a pill. Exercise and a good diet will help out .But you could be walking out to get the mail and someone run you over. You just never know when or what it will be . Live every day like it's your last cause it very well could be.

I’ll have to disagree with this.

If you live today as if it is going to be your last, you’d...

Stop going to work, paying bills, showering, maintenance of any kind, blow all your cash and be broke tomorrow.

When tomorrow comes and you ARE screwed. You’ll wish yesterday was your last.

Happy and Healthy Trails CtC!

Well you gotta take care of yourself nobody else will, but don’t ever feel like not smoking doesn’t mean you can’t have fellowship here or even go camping......

I love you too, TW!