Does anyone here still smoke?

[RayintheUK]

I smoked for 38 years, changed to a pipe for 2 years, then gave up for 5 months. I was offered a cigarette on holiday, thoughlesssly took it, then smoked for another 6 years, until last September (2006). Gave up when Jean went to Brazil with her friend for two weeks, on the basis that if I could do it then, the rest would be easy. I did, it was. 13 months smoke-free now and feeling so much better. No patches, or anything else - it was hearing myself wheeze that did it.

Ray.

[Knottscott]

I watched my Dad die from cancer at 66. He smoked for 50 years. I never will...I may die from many other causes, but smoking won't be one of them. The cost and the horrific stench are further deterents.

[twistsol]

Nobody in my family has died before 90 except the two of three smokers. Grandpa died at 66 and my uncle died in his late fifties. I was stupid enough to start in Jr High and smart enough to quit in high school.

My dad started smoking cigarettes during WWII and switched to cigars in college. Smoked those until the mid eighties and switched to a pipe. He quit altogether about 10 years ago when they moved to Africa and he couldn't get decent tobacco. He's 85 now and still maintains its the paper in the cigarettes that'll kill you, not the tobacco. I just smile and nod.

[LarryG]

After sneaking around during my early teens, I smoked two packs a day steadily from age 18 to the weekend of my 30th birthday, when I quit cold turkey. And I never touched another one -- although probably five years passed before the yearnings, most noticeably after a nice meal, completely disappeared.

Doctors have told me that after you've been quit for 20 years, you're back to square one in terms of your cancer risk. My diagnosis came exactly 19 years, six months after I quit. I will never know, for certain, what caused my cancer, but talk about something to make a guy really stop and think ...

But you know what I find interesting -- refreshing, even -- about this thread? When I was a kid, during the late 50s and early 60s, it seemed like virtually every adult smoked, and it was virtually assumed that every boy-child (and many of the girls) would start smoking when he came of age. But at this writing, nearly half the respondents to this poll took the "NO, never ever ever ever!" choice.

My, how times have changed ... for the better ...

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I started around 14 or so, quit about 8 years ago. Had a release for a few weeks twice, but those were 5 years ago. I have not smoked a cig in 4 years. I have had absolutely no desire to smoke one during that time either. All that finally went away.

Smoke free card rooms helped a lot! Both my relapsed happened while partying at casinos, particularly poker rooms. But again, thats been over 4 years ago.

[Perfidiajoe]

As said here before, I as many kids of the 50's started young. It was every where. Looking back I believe you couldn't be in the movies if you didn't smoke. Look at any old movie they all smoked all the time, & advertised smokes, John Wayne I believe for camel's, Humphry Bogart, Lucky's. My Parents smoked Chesterfields, "With that roasted flavor" I started sneaking cigerettes from them. My mom quit when I was in H.S. to pay for a set of encyclopedia for us. My dad never quit, He died at 60, most likely a combo. of smoking & asbestos from work. I can remember when I was pretty young maybe 5 or 6, I had an uncle who would send me to the store with 5 cents to buy him 3 loose cigerettes, & the news paper. About 17 years ago when I went for my annual medical exam, my Dr. who is a friend I grew up with, said time to quit. He said X-rays looked fine & no problems showing up in other tests, except the blow in tube test. He said for my age, height, & weight I should have a little more lung capacity. I walked out of the office, lit a cigerette, smoked it enjoyed it, & said to my self that was to be the last one. It was, now I can't believe I ever smoked, it is a dirty habit. Sorry for being so long winded (not really) pun intended

[jon_ramp]

Glad I never started. If I had, I'd never have been able to afford my other habit (hobby).

[Scottydont]

As a child of the 60's things were different back then. Check out this Flintstones commercial for Winston cigarettes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g****...h=commericials

[LCHIEN]

what's kind of a shame is how american tobacco companies are expanding their sales overseas while US consumption is on a decline.

[JoeyGee]

I can say proudly say that I never have lit a cigarette. I have purchased a total of 4 packs for other people, and I actually feel guilty about doing it--I guess I'm just a bit square.

I never had the desire, but on the rare occasions now that I do smell smoke (I do try to avoid it and Ohio is now smoke free in restaraunts and bars), I feel somewhat nostalgic for times at my grandparents house where all the adults smoked, but have all since quit.

There is a picture of my dad holding me when I was about 2 (I'm 33 now) with a cigarette in his hand. It looks so bizarre to me as he quit shortly after that picture was taken.

[MilDoc]

Have to say that I am impressed that 43+% have never smoked!

I wonder what proportion of that number is in the younger age groups, say less than 35-40?

[maxparot]

My parents both smoked Lucky Strike unfiltered cigarettes they each burned up 2 packs a day until my mother quit at age 41. Dad continued to smoke. At 42 mom was diagnosed with cancer. She had both lung and brain. She died at age 43.
My dad had his first heart attack at 50 after a triple bypass he quit smoking for about 1 year but did change his diet and started exercising regularly. When he started smoking again it was ultra lite cigarettes. At age 65 he had a second heart attack and refused all surgical treatment. By this time the regular exercise had stopped and the diet was no where near as strict but smoking continued. He made it to 68 and had his final heart attack in my driveway he was dead 2 hours later.
I smoked 2 packs a day of Marlboro reds from age 15 to 38. I quit cold turkey just before my wife and I took our relationship from friendship to dating. Although she never asked me to quit I knew that she didn't appreciate the smell of cigarette smoke. She tells me that was the step that pushed her off the wall and made her want to pursue a relationship with me. My wife has never smoked and I have been smoke free for 7 years.

[crokett]

I've never smoked beyond half a dozen celebratory cigars at weddings/childbirths. Since the original poll doesn't count them I won't either. I am glad I never started - I watched how hard it was for two of my brothers to quit

[Stormbringer]

I started when I was five. Was smoking a pack of Marlboro Reds a day when I was 15.

Whoa! That's hardcore. Smoking while in kindergardten. I have to ask how and why?

Greg

[DUD]

Paul, That is a good question, I quit on My Son's 1st Birthday, Maech 18th, 1971 and have only been tempted one time. Back when They had real Service Stations, I had My 1967 Chevelle Malibu 2 door hardtop in for service. The Mechanic lid His cigarette on the door sill, and it started to burn to close, so I grabbed it and had it rolled into My fingers headed toward My mouth and reached over and grabbed the han. Boy it was close. Bill