One Day, Thirteen Things
A compilation of smoking related tidbits relating to day one of The No Smoking Initiative (TNSI for future reference). Pardon my current obsession. It's a healthy one. I think. We will return you to the regularly scheduled responses to reader's questions after this brief message.
1. On Valentine's night, my final cigarette was accompanied by a lovely Brooklyn Brown Ale. I drained both, to their bitter ends. And then proclaimed, "I am a non-smoker."
2. I inhaled three puffs during the first 24 hour smoke free period. So sue me. I am a non-smoker.
3. My car has somehow been mistaken for a dumpster in recent weeks. Okay, days, even. Cleaning it out yesterday evening, I pitched 19 empty Marlboro Light 100 boxes. 19. NINETEEN. I am a non-smoker.
4. Those who worship at the altar of the ashtray at the side entrance of my building wished me godspeed and good luck and threw me a going away party. Okay, not true on the last bit. But they DID EXHALE BILLOWING PUFFERIES in my general direction. Not nice. I am a non-smoker.
5. Carrots are not weird. They are bite-sized orange sanity. I am a non-smoker.
6. I passed by my usual lunch spot, with a misty tear in my eye. I always sat at the bar (so I could chain smoke for an hour, duh) and the bartender gal has grown to be someone of a certain import in my life. Going in there again will be next to impossible. Because now? I am a non-smoker.
7. There was a difficult moment when I passed my little convenience store on the way home last night. It has been a daily stop off, even if the only thing I ever bought there were cigarettes. Okay, and Hershey's Kissables. And ridiculously expensive craptastic coffee to go. The urge to turn in the lot and hand my daily $7 tithe say good-bye to Billy was somehow overcome. Why? Because I am a non-smoker.
8. My son is smoking, gaining in bravery and stubbonery and stupidery with every passing day. His reaction when I told him I'd picked a quit date? "Good luck with that." I am a non-smoker.
9. There will be a major test of my new status tomorrow evening, if I choose to tag along for a co-worker's 30th birthday celebration at our local pub of choice. Our local very smoky pub of choice, surrounded by co-workers who only smoke when they drink. Have I mentioned I am a non-smoker?
10. These patches elicit damn fine dreams, I must say. A cross between bad flashbacks and worse Beatles' movies. Damn fine. Yet another reason I'm enjoying the fact that I am a non-smoker.
11. The peer pressure to succeed in quitting is far greater than any I remember encountering when I opted to pick up this nasty habit in the first place. Alas, I may have been the peer doing the pressuring and therefore shouldn't be expected to know how intense the receiving end can be. I am a non-smoker.
12. My husband came home and grabbed me up in his after work hug. He pulled back, a slightly puzzled look on his face, and remarked, "You smell nice." I am a non-smoker.
13. One box of fourteen patches = $52. (Former) average weekly cigarette bill = $66.50. Projected realized two week savings = $29. Typing 'I am a non-smoker' thirteen times? Priceless.
Congratulations and good luck. Quitting was the hardest thing I've ever done and one of the things I'm most proud of too. When my wife, then girlfriend, quit, I was just as proud of her. Not only was she more fun to kiss, I now know I've got a better shot of keeping her around for the next fifty years or so. One more time Congratulations and good luck!!!
Posted by: Mayberry | February 23, 2006 at 03:34 PM
From someone who recently has gone through what you are going through now, I am proud of you. Quitting smoking can be like peeling off one's skin to discover a new uncomfortable skin underneath.
But soon you'll start to enjoy it. You'll walk past those smokers at the side entrance and positively glow with your superiority.
Plus, smelling good for one's S.O. is worth all the pain. :)
Posted by: Suzanne | February 21, 2006 at 08:59 AM
I am on day eleven not smoking. If I can do it, ANYONE can! The third day was the worst, then it gradually got better. Achieving non-smoking status is well worth the process. All the best to you!
Posted by: Miss Cellania | February 17, 2006 at 04:22 AM
It's strange how the carrots help with the cravings hey?
I used to chew licorice sticks/ bark as well - bit nasty looking really to have a piece of wood poking out of your mouth but it was strangely comforting.
Also a blood thinner so you gotta go easy on them. lol.
And small, very hard candies.
Keep it up, babycakes.
Posted by: Jen | February 17, 2006 at 02:39 AM
Congratulations Ms. Nonsmoker!
Posted by: tricia | February 16, 2006 at 09:46 PM
Three words. Real cinnamon sticks.
From another non-smoker who smoked two packs a day for eighteen years.
Posted by: Laurie | February 16, 2006 at 08:40 PM
Splash vanilla/mint gum. Trust me.
Dreams will come true it will happen to you...
Posted by: Lissa | February 16, 2006 at 04:17 PM
Oh, and BTW, I smoked for 25 years, 1-3 packs per day. So I know how hard it is. I would rather have a baby or a root canal without anesthesia than try to do it again. There were no patches or gum when I quit.
Posted by: kenju | February 16, 2006 at 04:01 PM
You go girl. People who have never smoked, can no WAY understand how hard it is to quit.
Posted by: poopie | February 16, 2006 at 03:32 PM
I have never put one of those nasty things in my mouth, and for the life of me I can't understand what is so hard about throwing away something that makes you smell and taste bad -- and will kill you.
You can do it! YOU rule, not those little smelly sticks. :)
Posted by: FTS | February 16, 2006 at 02:47 PM
#'s 8 and 12 should be reason enough to remain a non-smoker forever!
Advice: all the experts will tell you that when you are trying to quit, you should stay away from places where you might be likely to give in to the urge and places where cohorts might be likely to urge you to light up again. Be really careful at the after-work party. Even if you don't light up, the smoky atmosphere cannor be good for your resolve to quit. I'm not preaching - I'm just sayin'......
Posted by: kenju | February 16, 2006 at 01:58 PM
This is great! Or should I say "priceless." I think it should be read outloud at all the smokers anonymous support groups around the country... if there where some. It's an anthem! Good luck!
Posted by: colleen | February 16, 2006 at 12:31 PM
Yay! You're a non-smoker. Yay! Just keep remembering what yer young'un said to you. That alone would be enough to make me never smoke one again.
Posted by: dorothy | February 16, 2006 at 12:01 PM
Wise words from Corra Harris. I like her!
I'd bet your soon-to-be 30 year old co-worker would miss you at her party but what a birthday present she'd receive from you - her friend - knowing you are home trying to be healthy....eating carrots!
I'm proud of you - you non-smoker you!
Posted by: Cindy | February 16, 2006 at 11:15 AM
You go, girl! My hubby is doing the nicotene gum as we speak. Kudos to you both.
Posted by: Karen | February 16, 2006 at 10:03 AM
Yay for you! Good luck!!!
Posted by: erika | February 16, 2006 at 09:53 AM
in the words of Townie from The Waterboy "You can do it!"
Posted by: Cari | February 16, 2006 at 09:40 AM
And after a year, use the $754 (which is $29 every two weeks) to get or do something nice.
Posted by: CGHill | February 16, 2006 at 08:21 AM
Hooray for my nonsmoking friend!
I have to tell you that the biggest reason I quit was that I'm a cheapskate. I walked into my local for my weekly carton and my pal behind the counter said that RJ Reynolds had increased the prices, and when I learned how much the increase was I said, "well, this is my last carton."
She laughed and I told her I was dead serious, that I just plain wouldn't spend more than $20 a carton. And I haven't.
That's when I became a nonsmoker.
Posted by: terrilynn | February 16, 2006 at 07:55 AM