I've been known to enjoy a cigar from time to time. The quiet peace of evening, smoke, and conversation with a good friend make for some of the best times in life. I look back fondly on the memories of time that I have spent in the quiet of such evenings.
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Once I was given a gift by a former manager. He knew of my fondness of enjoying cigars. He was traveling through England for a few weeks. When he got back to work he brought a small box over to my desk. Inside was a genuine Cuban Montecristo cigar. Since Cuban cigars are illegal to bring into the country and quite desirable I was very appreciative. I knew that what I now had was special and would treat it as such.
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I carefully kept the cigar in my humidor. The temperature maintained as close to 70 degrees as possible. The humidity level near 70%. I would protect and preserve this cigar for a very special occasion.
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The months passed, and I would check on this special prize every once in a while. Refill the water to keep the humidity just right. Waiting for that special occasion when I would indulge in this fine gift.
As time went on I started noticing some small spots on the side of the cigar. The wrapper was also starting to peel away in certain locations. I thought that maybe it was getting too humid where it was stored so I tried to dry it out a little over time. Those efforts failed. In the end (several years after receiving the cigar) it was falling apart and ended up a complete loss. It was never smoked.
This now ties into the story of the license plates.
We have two boys. When I was required to travel away from home I would always try to find something to bring back for them. On one occasion, I found a set of license plates with their names as seen in the picture. I had a similar one mounted under the back of my bicycle seat when I was growing up and pictured them having the same. I once again wanted to save these for a proper time to present them. Maybe the next time they get new bicycles would be perfect. It would go so much better on a new bike than the old ones they are riding now.
New bikes came and went. I never seemed to find the "perfect" time to put the plates on the new bikes.
Now our oldest son has graduated high school and moved out to live on his own. Our youngest son is a sophomore in high school and will be learning to drive in the near future. There never was the "perfect" opportunity that I had envisioned. The chance has come and gone. Now I sit here writing about this with two license plates still in my desk drawer. The enjoyment of them receiving these gifts would have been so much more lasting of a memory.
Don't delay the chance to give, to share, to bless someone, and to enjoy the opportunities that life gives us at the moment they arrive.
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If you delay, all you might end up with is two small license plates.
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