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So Art gives me a call a week or so ago asking me if I would like to drop by the following Thursday for a cigar in his decked out cigar garage and pick up a couple of boxes of cigars that he had acquired for me. Of course Art, being a good friend, how could i pass up the opportunity to have a small mini herf with him prior to Christmas. Thursday rolls along and I pack up a nice fiver of cigars as a gift to Art along with a bottle of Havana Club Barrel Proof Rum. load up my 40 count travel humidor to gift any others who may be there along with a nice Innis and Gunn Gift pack for Frank (Sorry Frank we Drank it .... ooops) on the chance that he might also show up also. Feeling very pleased with myself about my generous offerings I set off to Art's Place. I arrive to find Art with another BOTL (Pat) setting up in Art's Garage. Quite a cool set up with a couple of heaters a table and chairs loads of booze and a friendly greeting. Art, being the ever gracious host, wasted no time in offering up some fine beverages from his selection and we settled back to what looked like it would be a fine evening. Not too much later on Conor and Gary show up. More beverages are offered up more cigars set alight. I am well on my way to considering a late or no show at work the following day. At this point the order of events becomes somewhat blurry as: 1. I had consumed a fair quantity of Art's bar supply and 2. an unexpected surprise was lying in wait. All of a sudden there is a massive box sitting on the table directly in front of me. I know it did not simply materialize out of no where but that is how I remember it as I may have been somewhat distracted looking through the bottles of bourbon wondering which one to try next. I am informed by the lads that it is a gift for me. I am quite puzzled by both the size and weight of the box as I curiously give it a lift and a shake. I am also now thinking well that's nice as I really was not expecting a gift and proceed to open it, After some clumsy attempts to open the box I finally manage get a peek inside. GOBSMAKED, < SHOCK OF ALL SHOCKS as I look into the box to find it filled with cigars !!!!!!! Words could not describe what was within this box although I am sure that I made some attempt at voicing my surprise at the contents. Fortunately there were pictures taken which hopefully will get posted up in here shortly. As I start to look into this box I am now also informed by Art and the lads something that surprises me even more. As some of you obviously are now aware I recently had an incident the result of which about 85% - 90% of my cigar collection was stolen including all of my special HTF RE's LE's and discontinued boxes and was left with a few boxes and some singles. I had told a couple of close trusted BOTL's of this and assumed that it would go no further. Well those trusted BOTL's led by Art & Frank among others conspirators put out the call to arms and the result is an outpouring of generosity, brotherhood friendship and fraternity the like of which I have never experienced. There inside the box were a huge amount of packages/bundles of cigars. RE's LE's Special ones, Big ones, little ones, short ones, fat ones, skinny ones of all Marca;s and vitoals that you could imagine. each package donated by brothers and sisters from everywhere. At this point I now also realize that the event is being videoed. So hopefully photos and the video of this will be able to get posted up in here somewhere. I believe I made a number of lame attempts to express my gratitude on the video but I was also now feeling quite emotional and had to give pause on more than one occasion to gather myself or turn into a sobbing incoherent bumbling fool. So to all of you out there a hearty and loud thank you for your extraordinary generosity and demonstrating to not only myself but to all what true friendship and fraternity is. THANKS TO: Art, Frank, Martin, Keith, Phil, Enis, Tony, Hans, Conor, Joe, Garfield, Gary, Simon, Riaz, Shlomo, Jean Nick, Jean Paul, Fred, Erik, Shaun, Jim, Jeff (GWN) Jeff (grasshoper) Ellis, Chris, Piero, Pat, Paul, Lloyd, Aldo, Kevin, Lisa and Mark. I truly hope that this is the full list and my sincere apologies if I have missed anyone. Blame Art as this is the list he gave me. There were some pictures taken as well as a video both of which I hope are going to get posted up on here soon. Thank you once again to all. Each and every one of the cigars donated will be lit up with a thoughtful pause in thanks to each one of you all in making this holiday season even more special than I could have imagined.