Greene County Daily World

To smoke or not to smoke?

Posted Friday, May 2, 2008, at 11:33 AM
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To smoke or not to smoke that is the question.

I recently attended the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce meeting where tobacco prevention was the topic.

I offer two sides to my opinion on the topic.

(As I've said numerous times in the past, I used to be a pack-a-day smoker.)

Now when I look back to my smoking days I wonder just what in the heck was my reason in doing so. Smokes were cheap then-- $1.35 tax included. Was it cool? Maybe. Was it smart? Maybe, not.

Of course I never felt bad when I first took up the nasty habit. And I always secretly wondered about this thing called second-hand smoke.

Now, a whiff of second-hand smoke gets me all choked up.

As a smoker, I never smelled smoke in my hair or on my clothes. Heck, how can one smell and smoke?

Years later I know ex-smokers who spent most of their lives smoking and smokers who still smoke. I know smokers who like smoking and some who don't. Some of them will quit and others won't.

I don't want my kids to smoke. I don't won't your kids to smoke. Just don't smoke.

To quit smoking is tough but not impossible.

To keep smoking is also tough but possible.

Comments
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I used to like going into The Grill on Saturday or Sunday mornings for breakfast. But, since I now have a two year old son, my wife and I will not go in there with him. I, however, do not chose to push restaurants to ban smoking. I made a personal choice to not go in there with my son. The business owner should have the choice of allowing smoking or not. I know that place would lose a lot of business if they were to ban smoking. I, personally, do not like the idea of banning smoking in public places by local and state policies. If a business owner wants to allow smoking great. if he or she does not, that is also great. Bottom line, it should be up to the business owner to make that choice.

-- Posted by SmithA13 on Mon, May 5, 2008, at 11:23 AM

i am a smoker and i agree it is bad for you..however not all smokers are uncurtious..i do agree smoking in the dugout is way over the top...i have had a cigarette at the ball diamond but i usually will step back away from everyone so as not to bother them too much..i work for hospice and i have lost many patients to lung cancer as well as many other illnesses...i have also lost a loved one to ling cancer...and i still chose to smoke..it is my choice..i feel we are all gonna dy from some form of cancer or other illness wether we like it or not..i agree i should quit, but i am just not going to quit yet.

-- Posted by sissy on Sat, May 3, 2008, at 9:05 PM

I took care of a 70 year old patient once who smoked 4 packs a day for 55 years or so....I tried to figure it out once, and with figuring in 8 hours of sleep, it came up to about one cigarette every 12 minutes.

-- Posted by virginia is for lovers on Fri, May 2, 2008, at 5:47 PM

Have you ever watch someone you love die right in front of your eyes from lung cancer??? Smoking for 50 years. It is not a pretty picture. Believe me been there and done it.

-- Posted by justsoyouknow on Fri, May 2, 2008, at 3:41 PM

Meh, just ten less years in a nursing home.

-- Posted by junkmail on Fri, May 2, 2008, at 2:08 PM

They say each cigarette takes 10 minutes away from your life. Just to let you know, those 10 minutes don't come off the end of your life.

-- Posted by per moenia urbis on Fri, May 2, 2008, at 1:19 PM

I have often thought about quitting smoking, but I figure that unless it is outlawed I will probably smoke to the very end. Bring on the cremation.

-- Posted by junkmail on Fri, May 2, 2008, at 12:21 PM