A Tribute to Rush Limbaugh

My first cigar was around age 13-14, and it was a Swisher Sweet, not even sure how I managed to get my hands on it, but me and a friend from 7th grade smoked them in front of my garage.  I don't remember if I actually enjoyed it or not, but it is an experience I never forgot.  True enjoyment of cigars however didn't start until later in life, and in that vein, I can say that Rush Limbaugh influenced and increased my knowledge and enjoyment of them.  I watched Rush on his TV show long before I became a daily listener.  Rush was one of 3 individuals I never met, but really felt like I knew, but the only one for whom I shed tears when I learned of his passing.

Rush did not always speak of cigars, but when he did, the vibrancy he brought to the subject made you want to learn more about the hobby.  Rush was special, but guess what, so are cigars.  Many might argue that Rush was divisive, and hateful, but the reality is, he wasn’t - and those who actually took the time to listen - quickly realized this.

Perhaps this is what makes cigars so special.  You don't have to agree with someone to enjoy a cigar with them.  Several months ago, I sat at a local cigar store enjoying a cigar while waiting to pick up my wife.  Although I originally intended to read while enjoying the cigar, I got engaged in a conversation with a man who I suspect was not much younger than myself.  As the conversation developed, I realized our views where diabolically opposed, and yet our conversation remained cordial, the enjoyment of a cigar bringing up a common thread which by default introduced a civility necessary for discourse.

Those who criticize Rush Limbaugh most likely never listened to any extent.  The irony in Rush Limbaugh is this simple truth, Rush was almost more polite with those who disagreed with him, than those who fell in line.  Rush would challenge like minded thinkers to push them to deeper understanding and thought extraction, but with those who disagreed, his level of politeness was exceptional, the reason being is that you can catch more flies with honey than you can vinegar.

February 17, 2021 saw the passing of a great man, someone I considered a friend even though I never met him.  That day was too cold to enjoy a cigar in his honor, but the cigar shown here, bandless and nameless to you, is the cigar that I smoked in his honor and memory.  I can tell you the cigar was excellent, and in a future post I will write a review of the same cigar smoked on another day.  This post is to honor a man who impacted so many, in many different ways.

The fact that I mostly agreed with what Rush said is not important, what is important is that the love Rush displayed for so many areas of life also included a love of cigars.  And although we may disgaree about many things, coming together over a cigar means that we still are a civil people, able to agree about many things, and yet together enjoy a finer thing in life while expressing opposing views. 

If you are ever in the Nashville area and need a reason to light up a cigar, I'm always willing and able to accommodate the invite.  We may not agree on much, but hey, at least we can agree on the enjoyment of cigars, and together we can use that as a springboard for other areas of agreement.  I think that is how Rush viewed cigars, golf, and his radio show - a springboard to engage.  He may not have always got the person to agree with him, but at least he knew he could shake hands with an opposing view, knowing that he and you agreed in other areas.

RIP Rush Limbaugh, you will be missed.

Until we smoke again...