Saturday, January 29, 2011

Regrets

I’d have told anyone who asked it was harmless. The ads and posters touting the dangers had nothing to do with me. I was fifteen.

From my first drag I was addicted. A pack of cigarettes cost less than a dollar. Smoking bans were barely a twinkle in some legislator’s eye. I sat in a restaurant and drew in the poison. I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke rise, loving the new me. On that day I became a smoker.

Forty years later I sit in the stink, stains and ashes that cover my life, wishing I’d heeded the warnings.

This is a response to the 100 word challenge put forth by Velvet Verbosity.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now that should be a PSA heard by everyone!

barbara said...

my hubby kicked his 37 year old habit when he was 43 - yes, you see that correctly. He started stealing cigs from his mother's purse when he was 6. It was not fun for him - or any of us - when he quit. But it was a blessing to him - and all of us. Hang in there.

Good piece!

June B. Anderson said...

Wow. Do you realize how many volumes you just wrote in 100 words? Now...if only people would read it and heed it. Good job.

you gotta wonder said...

Thank you for your comments! Thankfully I kicked the habit in 2004. It's hard for me to imagine that I was once a smoker. I'm glad those days are behind me.

Bo said...

So many people have been there. Smoking seems like one of the most "harmless" addictions. My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer 6 years ago, so harmless: I think not...

Very well written. Thank you.

Teresa Kander said...

VERY powerful!!!

Velvet Verbosity said...

Addiction to anything is like a yoke around the neck. A friend of mine had success by reading the book, "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking". Maybe you should read it. :)