Commentary: My Life without Cigars

Last Friday I did something I should have done a long time ago, something most people take care of while they’re in high school or college. I had my wisdom teeth yanked out.

I didn’t really have anything against these three impacted bastards per se. For years I was aware that they were in there, and for years I was told by dentists that the choice to leave or remove them was my own. Since I’m no fan of oral surgery, I decided to let them be. That is until I started to get headaches in my temples and pain in my jaw. That’s when I (eventually) manned up and scheduled the same procedure that so many women and children have survived before me. How courageous.

Now, five days after D-Day for the wisdom teeth, my mouth is starting to heal. The headaches persist, but I expect them to subside as my jaw slowly gets used to all the extra space in my face.

As the healing process runs its course, I must abstain from cigars. There are certain things all post-extraction patients must avoid for at least a week, including straws, tortilla chips, booze, and popcorn. But top of the list is smoking. Smoking in the days following oral surgery can cause complications the likes of which I want no part.

I knew this ahead of time. That’s why, in the days leading up to the surgery, I lit up some of my favorite smokes, including the Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8, Tatuaje L’Espirit de Vérité 2009, Tesa Cabinet 312, and the PG 15th Anniversary.

I haven’t smoked anything in a week now. So far that’s going fine. Cigars are nothing like cigarettes when it comes to addiction (or anything else for that matter). Would I love to spark something special right now to celebrate my reemergence into the world of premium tobacco? Of course. But that would be premature. I’m holding off until I’m back to normal.

But this run of consecutive cigar-free days brings up some interesting questions: What’s the first cigar I should light up when the hiatus is over? What’s the longest you’ve gone without a cigar since becoming a true cigar enthusiast? What other cigar related activities should I engage in while I’m not smoking—organize my humidors, catch up on reading, etc.? I’d love to see your feedback in the comments below.

-Patrick A

photo credit: Imgur.com