Deep Thoughts...by Mark Moore

As the holidays approach, remember to take it easy and enjoy an good cigar. This was posted by Mark Moore, co-owner of En Fuego Tobacco Shop.

Sometimes I take myself way too seriously.

Have you ever had that "it doesn't get any better than this" moment lately? I have a friend, Sam, who I have a lot of respect for. He's quite a bit older than me and somewhat of a mentor. He's done very well for himself, both as a family man and a business man. Sam has owned his own business for about 40 years now which has yielded many fruits. He drives a $90,000 SUV, he lives in a humble mansion overlooking Lake Ray Hubbard, sent both his kids to prestigious colleges and secured himself for the rest of his life. He and his wife of almost 30 years have two children. They have moved away but have done very well in their own respective fields and have given him some precious grandkids. I have been meeting with Sam every week for about 3 years now. We sit and drink a cup of coffee and do our best to solve the world's problems. 

Sam is a workaholic. After we talk for about an hour each week, I try to draw him offside by offering to go smoke a cigar with me, have another cup of coffee, or grab some lunch later in the week. Sam's answer is always the same. "Yeah, let me check my schedule. I’ll let you know". As always, I never see or hear from him again until the next week. He just works and works, and makes a lot of money. I've always sort of envied that "nose to the grindstone" mentality of Sam's, until a few weeks ago.

As we had our same ol’ cup of coffee at the same ol’ place, Sam's demeanor was uncomfortably different. Fighting through his tears, he told me his wife of 3 decades, was leaving him for another man. His kids all have their own lives now. The friends he has made over a lifetime have their own busy schedules and all of his extended family are a plane trip away at best. The man who once had the world by its tail now has nothing but a nice bank account and a good credit score. 

Last Sunday evening, I had a "it doesn't get any better than this" moment. I was all alone on En Fuego Murphy's patio. It was about 60 degrees and drizzling outside, just cool enough to sit next to the fireplace. I was entrenched in a good C.S. Lewis book. I always feel smarter when I read C.S. Lewis, probably because I only comprehend about half of what he writes.  I had a nice, inexpensive cigar I had just lit up and there was a faint, soothing jazz track serenading me from the speakers above. As I caught myself in that utopian moment, I couldn't help but think of Sam. I wondered if he'd ever slowed down the money making machine long enough to read a good book or smoke a good cigar or appreciate Bennie Goodman charming a clarinet as only he could. 

A day will come when Sam's house will be sold for pennies on the dollar. His SUV will be a gas guzzling dinosaur. His fortune that's taken a lifetime to amass will eventually be used to pay his medical bills, a 75 square foot assisted living bedroom, the IRS and one day a casket. That's the world we live in. It's short, cruel and unpredictable. I believe in a sovereign God who gives and takes as He pleases. He doesn't ask our permission or even warn us first. But I do believe we are to enjoy life’s every moment and not take it too seriously. I guess that's why I'm so attracted to cigar smokers. In general, they've all learned the art of not taking life so seriously, at least for a time. When was the last time you overpaid for a great cigar and had no regrets? When was the last time you took off work early to take your kid to a matinee? When was the last time you gave into the gluttony of a double dip of Rocky Road in lieu of just a single? A good day’s work is rewarding, but firing up a good cigar while getting lost in a good book that evening; that is euphoric.

Guess who called me today? Yep, Sam…I was shocked. He wants to meet me at En Fuego to smoke a cigar with me.  Go figure…