When my dad was a sales manager back in the fifties and he wanted to be jovial....or celebrate something to do with business...or God knows what else, he'd always say "This calls for a great big fat "ceegar"...and surprise surprise, he always had a couple of them in his pocket.

But he never smoked them himself...they always went to one (or more) of the salesman who'd drop by while on their way outta the province (we lived in Baie d'Urfe Quebec) on their way to Ontario or Manitoba or whatever.

I remember times when I'd look downstairs into the basement and the "Ceegar" smoke was so thick, even I couldn'd breathe upstairs. Lord, it seems so weird today. I guess no one even considered saying "outside if you MUST do that!!" What on earth did all the folks who freak at the hint of smoke today do? Did people with allergies just keep their mouths shut....or disappear til it went away?

I'm told that in certain circles it's coming back big time. I sort of doubt it, despite the glossy magazines and a hilarious character on the radio called the "cigar general".

Have a CEEGAR?

Rick