joeman
Full Member
Posts: 566
First Name: Joe
Favorite Pipe: Grabow Hillcrest
Favorite Tobacco: Sutliff Barbados Plantation
Location:
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Post by joeman on Jan 10, 2020 14:01:46 GMT -5
Happy New Year, gents! While the Patch family has grown a LOT since I joined 2 years ago, I know that there are also times where certain guys may mysteriously disappear from participation. I've often thought about guys who I've noticed have stopped posting; are they sick...are they busy...are they alive! I've often shot a quick PM or email to a member to ask if all is well. So when I logged in today (after being absent since August) and saw the white balloon over my message box telling me my inbox had some activity, I was unexpectedly surprised to see that I'd been missed. Not by many, but was glad for the concern at all! No life tradgedies or anything of the sort...just the busy-ness of life, work, family, etc...so I quite unintentionally went off the Briar Patch radar for a while. I've also smoked pipes only seldom during that time, and apart from a few restoration commissions, I've hardly turned out any pipe repairs/refurbs. But like it or not...miss me or not...I'm back.
The family and I had a blessed and relatively peaceful holiday season. Since my last visit, I've learned from my boy (31) and his wife, that mama and I will be grandparents in May....this is our first grandkid! My daughter (27) moved to GA for a job in her field, but as of the holidays, she comes back to Greenville and stays with us whenever she's in town on weekends. I went to spend time with my 91 year old auntie in San Fran - she is the very last of the generation on either side of my parent's families. The rest is small stuff...not much other 'news' to share. I've got a few estate pipes on the bench which are currently receiving some needed love. I also need to get at least a few dozen refurbs done, because I just paid for a vendor table for the TAPS / Triangle Area Pipe Show, which happens on April 4 in Raleigh, NC.
2020 is looking like a busy year for Mrs. JoeMan and I...but I intend to be active here. Thanks for caring, and I hope your year is starting out well!
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Post by mgtarheel on Jan 10, 2020 14:25:01 GMT -5
Glad to see you back Joe. Life always gets busy around the holidays.
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Post by unknownpipesmoker on Jan 10, 2020 14:49:19 GMT -5
Glad to have you back, Joe.
Congratulations on the grandchild. This is why for those of you young enough to have children of your own, I really recommend it.
For me, loves came and went. No one really stumbled at my footsteps that was really "the one" for me. No one can say I didn't try enough.
But when you hit your 70s, 80s, and you have no children, no grandchildren, no family.. Old friends come and go. Life does get very bleak and seemingly without purpose. I decided to get back to my roots and focus more on the spiritual side of things, which has helped, and healed me a lot.
But don't let some idiot in a magazine, if people still read those, online, or some TV show tell you that having children will hinder your "professional growth", or prevent you from having a good personal life, or restrain you from some pie in the sky personal freedom. What good is "personal freedom to do what you want" if you have no one to share it with? Have children. Have as many as you can have, or however many you want. You don't want to end up like me.
I miss your posts, Joe. Glad to see you around.
UPS.
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joeman
Full Member
Posts: 566
First Name: Joe
Favorite Pipe: Grabow Hillcrest
Favorite Tobacco: Sutliff Barbados Plantation
Location:
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Post by joeman on Jan 10, 2020 14:56:47 GMT -5
Glad to have you back, Joe. Congratulations on the grandchild. This is why for those of you young enough to have children of your own, I really recommend it. For me, loves came and went. No one really stumbled at my footsteps that was really "the one" for me. No one can say I didn't try enough. But when you hit your 70s, 80s, and you have no children, no grandchildren, no family.. Old friends come and go. Life does get very bleak and seemingly without purpose. I decided to get back to my roots and focus more on the spiritual side of things, which has helped, and healed me a lot. But don't let some idiot in a magazine, if people still read those, online, or some TV show tell you that having children will hinder your "professional growth", or prevent you from having a good personal life, or restrain you from some pie in the sky personal freedom. What good is "personal freedom to do what you want" if you have no one to share it with? Have children. Have as many as you can have, or however many you want. You don't want to end up like me. I miss your posts, Joe. Glad to see you around. UPS. Glad you're here, UPS! |
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Post by peteguy on Jan 10, 2020 15:33:18 GMT -5
I have been wondering if you were OK and missing your input. Congrats on the grand child! I hope you have had time to bring back a few pipes from the dead.
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Post by Yohanan on Jan 10, 2020 17:45:23 GMT -5
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2020 18:13:18 GMT -5
Congrats on the news about a grandchild on the way. Welcome back.
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Post by Darin on Jan 10, 2020 18:42:35 GMT -5
Welcome back!  |
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Post by roadsdiverged on Jan 10, 2020 19:57:37 GMT -5
Welcome back man! I'm glad you and the family are doing well |
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Post by lestrout on Jan 10, 2020 22:15:54 GMT -5
Yo joe - glad you relieved us of any concern about your well being. Congrats on g'kid to be. They are wonderful.
hp
les
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Post by puffy on Jan 10, 2020 22:21:14 GMT -5
Welcome Back
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2020 23:25:13 GMT -5
Hi there good to see you.
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joeman
Full Member
Posts: 566
First Name: Joe
Favorite Pipe: Grabow Hillcrest
Favorite Tobacco: Sutliff Barbados Plantation
Location:
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Post by joeman on Jan 11, 2020 12:55:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the care, and the "re-reception", guys. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Jan 13, 2020 4:57:41 GMT -5
Good to see you back, Joe. I try to keep on top of catching those who stop posting, but I've been flat out myself that I haven't been around as much as I'd like. I'm glad things are going well for you and you're still hanging around. I am thrilled of your news of a grandchild - make sure you spoil the wee tike (but in a good way).
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Post by trailboss on Jan 13, 2020 7:36:31 GMT -5
Welcome back Joe,
Thanks for sharing with s what has transpired in your life, I am a big advocate of being a grandparent...raising kids, maintaining a marriage and having grand-kids are a life enriching experience.
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Post by sperrytops on Jan 13, 2020 14:47:17 GMT -5
Welcome back. Glad to see all is well with you.
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Post by peterd-Buffalo Spirit on Jan 15, 2020 7:58:04 GMT -5
...Great to see you back Joe!
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