File under things that make you go hmmm, then shake your head in disbelief.
An acquaintance of mine had a series of health crisis during the second half of last year (2014.). He suffered a stroke, a heart attack, and had a pneumonectomy to treat lung cancer. Yes, he was a smoker; like a chimney. Miraculously, he recovered quickly from all these incidents and returned to work. I heard that he had quit smoking and thought; too bad it took such health catastrophes to prompt him to quit.
Disclaimer:I smoked for 33 years and it took me ten years to quit. So I do know how difficult it is to quit.
This morning as I walked to work I saw this acquaintance leave his apartment and walk toward a coffee shop a few blocks away. He was, perhaps, 3/4 block ahead of me. But there was no mistake when I saw his right hand go up to his face and the lit end of cigarette glowed in the darkness.
I'm still shaking my head in disbelief.
I often wonder how my head is still attached to my neck because I shake it so much.
ReplyDeleteI smoked for years but I gave up cold turkey four years ago...no problems. I enjoy smoking, but I won't ever take it up again.
Like you, I would've been shaking my head, too, at the sight of your acquaintance lighting up. But...that's his choice, I guess...as stupid as it may be.
I meant to type " I enjoyed smoking"....
ReplyDeleteSelf-destructive addiction is one of those terrible things I will never fully understand. I used to work with individuals who lived with HIV and AIDS. Some were illicit drug users who had to give up the habit or die--most antiretroviral drugs don't play well with illicit drugs. I saw people give up methamphetamine, just to pick up a cigarette. The results were sad and ugly... and painful.
ReplyDeleteI still can't understand why. So I join your head shaking. I hope he sees reason soon... before it's too late.
P.S. Congrats on quitting, especially after such long use!
ReplyDeleteMy dandruff is floating everywhere as I join in with the disbelief!
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad. My uncle is the same way. he can't have surgery to fix a possible aneurysm unless he stops smoking, and we just won't Quit. So sad.
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