Ted's Cigars sells tobacco products and is only suitable for those 21 years or older. Click Enter only if you are at least 21 years of age.
or Exit"This story is about the generational passage of one heritage of incredible character to another.
My mother-in-law was an incredible woman. Her family came to the United States when she was 7. She became her church pianist at 13, she married and gave birth to 3 daughters. She made a great home and was generous with her time and talents. If you met her, you were her friend. She was very humble and the perfect example of a Christian that I know. In her late 40s she did battle with cancer and temporarily won. 13 years later cancer came back and got her. Her life in between was full. She gave her time to her friends and family. Now her middle daughter, my wife, is the spitting image. She stayed at home to raise our 4 children. She did a remarkable job. She went back into the workforce and within a few years became the CFO of a non-profit organization that takes care of the community. She gives of her time and money to weekly feed the homeless. That is weekly she helps provide around 70 meals to homeless who live in the desert and won't go into town to seek help. She has become 'Momma G' to many kids of all ages who need a mom who will love them, listen to them and provide that needed hug and warmth. I have the pleasure of knowing 2 very great women in my life and I am watching this develop in my two daughters. I am very blessed." - William from Lancaster, CA
"I find the story that I was planning to share especially fitting now that I know the cigar band says 'don't borrow trouble' and where it came from.
My story is about a mentor, a talented teaching assistant who saw my stress and worry about a project that was coming due. When he saw my demeanor he said 'don't stress, it's not worth it, it will only make things worse.' Since then I've carried that with me, and when faced with stressful situations I don't stress. I realize that worrying will not affect the outcome; if anything it will make things worse.
Attached is a photo of the project I was working on, ironically enough I was stressing over creating a 'meditation space'." - Ron from Brooklyn, NY
"The person who has inspired me the most in my life has been Judson Massingill. I was working in a small auto repair shop when I was 18 and happen to come across an ad in the back for the School of Automotive Machinists. There were pictures of kids like me working on the most beautiful racing engines you could imagine. Since I was living in San Antonio and the school was in Houston it wasn't too far away. So, I went to tour it one weekend and fell in love. I enrolled a month later, bought a small travel trailer and moved to Houston. I spent the next year and a half around Jud, as we liked to call him. I couldn't fathom how anyone could ever come to know so much about engines and quickly took a liking to him. He was brash and quick to tell you what he thought, never holding back on his opinions. I got to work with engines of all types and the machinery necessary to rebuild them. The highlight of my day was always when a new engine fire d to life on the dyno. When they would make a 'power pull' the sound that engine would emit was out of this world! It was during this time that I decided I wanted to make engine building a career.
After graduating, I had dreams of moving to the Carolinas where high end race shops were on every corner. However, as it usually the case with young men...I followed a woman to College Station, Texas where she was going to attend college. There was no racing to speak of but I found a great little machine shop where I applied for an engine building position. The owner took pity on me for my lack of real world experience and hired me at a wage of $6/hour. Despite the pay, I was thrilled to get a chance to start my career as a real engine builder...with some guidance from the owner of course. I knew that I wouldn't be able to keep a roof over my head with my current wage so I took a night job at an auto parts store just so I could work in that glorious machine shop during the day. That job set the wheels in motion for my entire career and now 20 years later and many jobs later I am proud to say that I am still an engine builder and earn a good wage doing it too. I have thought about going to college and getting a degree which would likely put me behind a desk for the rest of my life but to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way. Working with my hands everyday is the key to happiness. Judson does a great thing by molding the minds of the young and showing that you can still learn a craft in this modern era." - Josh from San Antonio, TX