the man who introduced me to cigars was buried yesterday.
he died sunday, but i so rarely use the phone but i did today and stupidly hadn't checked messages since saturday. i just called back and got the news (they didn't want to tell me of his death on an answering machine).
i loved him deeply and will miss him unendingly.
we, his "other family" (such as we are), knew him as Bozzin, which is gaelic for "uncle" or "old man."
his wife, whom he spoke of with fierce love, died (killed by a drunk driver) before they had the chance to have kids; he never remarried. instead, he "adopted" a motley crew of "nephews" as he called us, though he treated us like sons. like very lucky, blessed sons. some of us he "adopted" as adults; many, many others he raised in his home from childhood.
some of us followed him into law enforcement. others went into the military. all of us came from humble beginnings, as did he. no matter what anyone else thought or thinks of us, the sun rose and set on what Bozzin had to say. his opinion mattered. HE mattered.
those of us who smoked already, he welcomed to his world of burl and leaf, pipes and cigars. he'd suprise us out of the blue with a new sample of tobacco to try from the shop he frequented, or he'd send a handful of the finest cigars -- whatever he thought we should know to be truly "well-rounded" in the smoking arts.
"you are all gentlemen of the highest order, and don't you forget it," he'd say to us. "if you smoke, i expect you to smoke like gentlemen, too."
he had bipass surgery a few months back. a couple of well-meaning nephews (non-smokers) hijacked his humidors. he understood the concern but was pissed that they let them dry out. i had a pack of cigars -- all toraño; i wanted to introduce him to the line -- in my humi waiting to send to him once he gave the okay to send them on. he started smoking his pipe yet but wasn't ready for cigars. maybe by june, he said.
they're still sitting here in a bag marked "for Bozzin."
oh god, i'm gonna miss him so much! i miss him already.
L. Andrew S. Austin, 61
Known to many in DeKalb Co. as "Uncle Bozzin", Andrew Austin passed away in his home in Valley Head on Sunday, March 28th.
Mr. Austin was a native of Louisiana but had made his home in north DeKalb in the 1960s. A retired Army sergeant, Mr.Austin was best known for his quarter of a century work with the DeKalb sheriff department and his unending dedication to the children of underprivaledged families. In 1966, he opened his home to runaway, abused and the poor children ever in need of love and a helping hand. As many as one hundred of the county's needy have found a surrogate home and uncle while on his seven hundred acre farm.
Mr. Austin was preceded in death by his wife, Amy; and
parents, Edward and Ghurtrue Austin. Survivors include one brother, Edward and one sister, Evelyn; 14 nieces and nephews and 33 grandnieces and grandnephews.
The graveside service will be Monday at 4 p.m. at Headsprings Cemetary in Sulphur Springs with Rev. Lowry Ellis officiating
if you smoke one for Uncle Bozzin, you'll be toasting the most amazing human being i've ever had the honor to know and love, not to mention the finest BOTL who introduced so many to the love of the leaf and love of the briar.
