I Hate Smoking

Let's be honest: it's a mug's game.

My main memories of my Granny are of her with a cigarette in hand, of being sent to the "cabin" to buy her mentholated Dunhill. Add to that the memory of my time with my Dad shared always with a cigarette - one after the other. Of the chorus of coughing in the mornings and of now watching him struggle, with COPD, knowing this is a terminal illness that was brought upon himself. Supposedly my Grandma died of old age (but i reckon it was the cancer that got her first) and despite my Dad giving up smoking over eight years ago the years of damage have taken their toll.

I chose a path away from cigarettes and I don't mind telling people how stupid I think they are for smoking - friends, family, strangers.

We are all touched by cancer at some point and I recently got the all clear after twelve long years of close attention. I am thankful that it was caught before I needed anything other than day treatment and biopsies.

How is it though that I find myself with someone that has recently decided to start smoking. You say it is down to stress - but you are still stressed. I wonder do you know me at all and the disrespect your decision has on me and our daughter? How could you watch your Dad die of lung cancer and still smoke. Is that what you want your children to see happen to you? Do you not want them to remember a healthy you?

Man up and quit, if not for me, for them.