HAPPY NEW YEAR

To begin 2022, first I wish each of you a healthy, happy, and prosperous year.  Let us look forward with optimism – believing that our world will come to grips with the Pandemic, and that we will come out the “other side” wiser and more resolved about handling such challenges. The world faces other problems this year (As it does every year!) - economic uncertainty, potential military conflict, societal upheaval. Let’s resolve to be more tolerant, better informed, and a part of the solution, rather than part of the problem.

My posts, in their first six months, have connected me with new friends. While there will never be an opportunity to meet most of you face-to-face, I have been warmed by your messages that encourage me to keep writing.

Each post is now being opened about 3,000 times; this includes multiple “views” by a single person. I appreciate such support and again ask that you tell others about the writing.  

A pattern has emerged in the posts’ readership. Readers divide broadly into two groups.  The first one I anticipated, but it is bigger than I had expected. This group is mostly people who are over 65 years old.  For you, Going Down Tobacco Road IS a walk down memory lane. It recalls a slice of life from 60 -70 years ago.  And your enthusiasm is not a surprise.  Psychologists tell us that as we age, we engage more fondly in memories of our youth.  We like to meet and talk with those who share those memories.  This has been especially true during the Pandemic lockdown. I plan to continue sharing material that will add to those memories.

The second group is security analysts, portfolio managers, and investors who follow tobacco stocks. Their interest is more than casual.  They stake their reputations, their livelihood, and their money on their knowledge of the industry. The group is smaller, and keeping their interest is a challenge. Rather than simply history, they want insights about the future of tobacco. Some have long-standing reputations in the investment world, in the U.S. and internationally. It is an honor to have them cite my work, and I appreciate their interest and support.

Along with my memories of Tobacco Road, I will collect information on the current state of the tobacco industry (including comments from these experts) and share them with everyone. Some investors have found the historical context of Tobacco Road useful background as they try to predict tobacco’s future. My hope is that the historical material will continue to serve that purpose. And that up-to-date information about tobacco stocks may help everyone be better investors.

I welcome your feedback.  If you have a subject that interests you, let me know.  And if you see ways my posts can be improved, let me know that too. I look forward to keeping each of you as a reader and friend and will do my best to share posts regularly throughout 2022.