Smoke Signals
Another branch in the family tree has flamed out thanks to a lifetime of smoking. My father’s sister died a week ago in her early 50s from complications due to smoking cigarettes. She was on this earth for a single year longer than her own mother, who also died in her early 50s from complications due to smoking. Her father, my grandfather also had complications from smoking… as did my maternal grandparents. You would think that the loss of an entire generation in the family tree would send a signal to those that are still here. Think again.I basically grew up with 3 younger sisters and I always thought we should take the knowledge we had access to and improve our lives with it. Combine this with technology and – Whamo! – the much talked about “Gen Xers” is the result. We are supposed to be ahead of the game because of our instant access to information past and present. So, where is all this wonderful intelligence when it comes to smoking?
Making laws that attempt to determine what a person can or cannot do to themselves is largely wrong, and I also believe that to be the case with smoking. I’m neutral on the public smoking bans. However, in 2005 we have the technology and the intelligence to know better than to do something as stupid as starting a habit like smoking. I often query those in my family that smoke and ask them why they are still smoking, knowing what they know. I get myriad answers - from lame humor: “I just like killing myself slowly. Haha.” to other more serious answers like: “I’m trying to quit, I really am. I just can’t do it… you just don’t understand”. Yeah…. Ok.
The question & excuse thing can go on forever and get nowhere. My father told me something though when I was a kid and for some reason it has stuck in my head to this day. He challenged me to name one good/positive affect cigarettes have on smokers.
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Twenty-five years later, I’m still trying to think of just one good thing.
posted by Bonzai @ 12:37 PM
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