yeah - know what you mean. My Aunt took an old sword cane with a brass lion's head that i remember my Grandfather bring back from England. Sweet talked his way through customs with it. Have not seen it in over 20 years but hope it is being appreciated and looked after.
Funny how memory works. They say smell is the strongest trigger. i definitely remember my Grandfather's scent {and my Father's that i miss even more for other reasons} and the pipes and tobacco he smoked. i remember it was at his house that i saw on TV { we did not have one of our own then and he had this huge old Rank Arena} when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, When Elvis died and when Bruce Lee died. We used to have roast for lunch there every second Sunday. Before lunch we watched the wrestling {before this rock and roll crap} After lunch it was usually an old jungle movie like one of the Tarzan's or Bomba the Jungle Boy or Jungle Jim, while we smoked a pipe. { i did not get live matches for mine back then} As i got older and left school i hung out there more. Mowed lawns, helped out and learnt about smoking a pipe and drinking Whisky.
Heaps more stories that all link back to good memories every time i smell a pipe - especially if it is the old brown amphora tobacco that he seemed to smoke most, with the cherry cavendish a second. Man time runs away...
Adam