No Smoking
November 6, 2008
“A custom loathsome to the eyes, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain and dangerous to the lungs.”
- King James on smoking 1620
“For thy sake, Tobacco, I would do anything but die.”
- Charles Lamb when he decided to quit smoking, 1830
I used to have my mother’s last pack of cigarettes in a nice glass case. I was so proud of her the day in 1984, when she announced she was giving up the bad habit. To this day she speaks of a craving she must shun. I remember trying to hide her cigarettes, lighter or ash tray.
I have a letter where she documents her thoughts while participating in National Smoke Out day. Smoking is a real addiction. She finally quit smoking after those famous PSA’s in the early 80’s. She quit cold turkey as they say.
My mom must have had her first smoke at the age of 12. When her father caught her, she was in big trouble, but mostly because she tried to sneak and hide something from him.
I recall as a child hanging out with some older cousins, we’d gather the cigarette butts and pretend we were smoking. Gross!
As an adult I tried to start smoking in San Angelo. Under stress, I had to produce and anchor the 6 and 10 p.m. news for 3 months. I was also the News Director and thought the smoking would help. It didn’t last, within a few days I was coughing non-stop. I can’t stand smoking. JMD
Comments
Got something to say?
