Great post Vin and I share many of the same thoughts as you.
I had never been to a herf before, period. So I was a little nervous beforehand. Not in the sense of meeting new people, I love to meet new folks, but in the sense of embarassing myself with such little knowledge of this hobby of ours.
The cigars that are premium to me are afterthoughts to others, I'm not a "habanophile" and know jack-diddly about cuban cigars. I don't have boxes laying around to just dole out to everyone like pieces of gum. So, in that sense I was intimidated as well. I'm sure no one came away from meeting me saying that guy bombed the hell out of me with all these great cigars and I want on his buddy list for sure.
But you know what? I'm not out to impress anyone, I'm out to meet people and live my life. I enjoy a good cigar but I enjoy a good person much more. That I accomplished--thanks to all of you in attendance at this event. I walked away from Russ's house knowing that this herf was the first of many more that I will attend, and that the people that I met and friendships that I started were the reason I was there in the first place. Everything else really doesn't matter.
