Shame

If you ever want to quit smoking, it helps to spend some time in Vermont.

I am here visiting my wife. She is working as a college professor in a quaint town called Middlebury.

About the riskiest thing for sale within a block of her apartment is a cup of Americano at the local cafe. There's also a bookstore, and a place to rent snowshoes.

Looking out the window, I don't see any tobacconists or neon signs advertising Budweiser and Winstons.

I see many, many Subarus, men with grey beards and women without make-up.

I see a lot of green and white and water and sky. Just a whole bunch of Vermonty goodness. Not a smoker or a cigarette in sight.

A few hours ago I had a strong craving. With restless legs I headed outside to walk it off.

I stumbled into a cross-eyed local, who had granola chunks in his scraggly beard, and he told me - though it was hard to hear him over the waterfall raging nearby - that the law in town is clear: If you smoke within three feet of a live tree you will be trussed and shot by a cheese-fed park ranger named Leslie.

Though he added that a risk-taker might find cigarettes at the Exxon station up Route 7.

But I imagine they're made with dried berries, bark essence and the parched skin of the last smoker to cross Leslie.

Hey, don't scoff. They recycle people here.

I would just as soon smoke a cigarette in public in Vermont as I would bungee jump off the CN Tower.

Comments

[Sasa Jeric]

Hi David,

Vermont sounds...facist? But nice I suppose. Good on you for continuing the battle. I'm getting ready to start week five down here and am still waiting for some of the withdrawal symptoms to subside; although I too am smoking in my dreams and am thankful for it.

I work as a high school teacher down here and last week had to confiscate cigarettes and tobacco from the students on grounds duty...strange thing is, as I was walking to the deputy principal's office to file a report, I thought I was in some sort of trouble. I suppose it was my conscience and that fact that I had given considerable thought to taking a couple of those confiscations for myself.

Keep fighting the good fight mate. Don't concern yourself with those that describe how easy it is after the first couple of weeks--it isn't, they just want others thinking it was for them. Looking forward to the next entry.

Cheers,

Sasa

Foxton, New Zealand

[Kate]

Hey...I'm still hanging in too, it's been 3 weeks now. In reference to your idea about jogging...DO IT. I went for the first time as a non-smoker today. What an eye opener. I've been smoking since I was 16 years old, and previous attempts to run as a smoker left me winded, legs burning,and unable to continue after just over a minute of pounding the pavement. I just ran for 10 minutes...not winded, no problem. Unbelievable. So THIS is what being a non-smoker is like! Get out there and do it...you'll be AMAZED.

[Jenn]

So I don't smoke, never had, never intend to.
I do however read and appreciate your blog!
I love your quips and sarcasm...keep em coming.
Maybe after this is over you can quit something else, like t.v. for a few months or something and write about it for our collective entertainment ha ha!

[David]

hey man, quick tip for ya from one ex-smoker of 15 years to a guy/columnist wanting to quit...stop thinking so much about it. Your column (which blows my mind when I think someone actually receives compensation for writing) can only be a hinderance to your plight. Seriously, refelecting and jabbering on and on about cravings and the like won't get you anywhere but to a gas station picking up a pack of butts and moaning to yourself about how hard it is. When you seriously want to quit do the following:

1. make yourself feel shame for smoking and think how ridiculous and disgusting it is.
2. take a walk through the cancer ward at any downtown hopsital, the orderlies or nurses will be happy to give you a tour.
3. think about your family.

that's about it really. once you get everything in context it isn't as big a deal as you would like to think it is. alternatively, think of the other side...keep smoking. basically what I'm saying is suck it up man...from one ex-smoker to you.

[lisa]

thanks for this. i'm reading this in support of my boyfriend who is in his second week of quitting - longest stint yet. with no addictions or dependencies, i find it very difficult to understand his struggle to kick his 13 year old habit. your blog helps me understand that he's not just being a whiny, jerky baby. best of luck...and i hope jogging comes to you soon!

[Marcus]

Hi David,

I'm a heavy smoker and want to quit. Reading your article about the flight hit home. Sitting in those smoking huts in Asia watching other men smoke. It's literally a stress factory, jet lag, business woes and any kind of woe for that matter.

Feeling like I was seeing the 'second coming' when the airport staff, brought me a fresh pack of mid-7's. I knew at that stage that these things had a big edge on me. Next, finding another smoke lounge to prevent others from seeing me chaining, man!

That being said, I cannot smoke at work. While there I am able to handle my business without smoking. In the company of someone I respect, I refrain yet again. So, I know that 'the quit' is possible. Thank you for your blog, you tell it like it is from your persepective and I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks in the terms you've so eloquently described.

Respectfully,

MJS