We're going to try this-again

Hello 2012.

Let me tell you what happened last time-

My wife and I were doing really well until one afternoon, she called me as I was on my way home and sounded desperate-"Please bring me a pack of cigarettes, I'm nickin' (Nicotine Withdrawal) real bad!" That was all it took-I got her two packs and myself a couple of packs, I got home, we lit up and enjoyed a nice chain smoke.

That's how it's been for the past several months until last week. My wife became symptomatic on Wednesday evening, I became symptomatic on Thursday morning and by the time I got off of work at 9pm, I was feeling a wreck-which really wasn't appealing because that was the exact moment I started my vacation. We both had come down with a horrible case of bronchitis, so off to the Doctor with us on Friday afternoon.

We got a prescription for some God-awful horse-pills that started helping me, but didn't do anything for the missus. She was back on Monday and again on Tuesday having to take breathing treatments with a nebulizer that eventually helped open her breathing passages-and as I looked at her puffing away on that thing, my mind flashed back to the slow, agonizing death my mother endured from COPD and a host of other breathing-related conditions-all because of her pack-a-day habit.

Of course, I continued to smoke, outside and I must admit, I was doing a little soul-searching between those coughing fits that turned my face purple and made the world spin 'round and 'round. The missus said she was fine without cigarettes anymore since she hadn't had one in over a week and after what she'd just been through, she had no inclination to start up again. Sure, she still wants one and I'll admit, so do I, but the misery that was visited on us during what should have been the best time of the year got our attention.

So today, I noticed that I was down to my last four and I wouldn't be going out to buy anymore-I will try this again and as many times as necessary until I can finally say I've beat this awful habit. I turned my attention and energy into assaulting the housework that had been demanding the attention of someone. The missus continued on her school work today since next week, she begins her LAST CLASS required to get her Bachelors Degree in Paralegal Studies and I attacked the housework she didn't have time to attend with a will-and got all of it and a little more done.

In all honesty, I must say that I rather like NOT having ashes all over my computer and my desk and I like not having an ashtray that one of my cats can knock over sending ashes and cigarette butts flying in all directions. And I also like the fact that we should realize a savings of $98.00 each and every week from NOT buying cigarettes. Between the two of us, that's over $4700.00 a year we're keeping for ourselves and that's downright appealing.

So, we're going to try, again, to finally kick this habit-it won't be easy but I think this time, we're ready....

I'll keep in touch.

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