WHY I DECIDED NOT TO SMOKE.
69NON-SMOKING FAMILY; AS FAR AS I KNOW:
Years ago, when I was thirteen, I spent one of many weekends at my maternal grandmother's apartment in Brooklyn, NY. It was a sunny weekend day in 1975. I do not know the season, I cannot tell you which day it was, or what I had on, but I know it was the day I decided not to smoke cigarettes.
A few years before, my younger brother and I -- fueled by the no smoking campaign in our school -- in Queens, NY -- decided we would save our mother from dying from cancer by throwing out her cigarettes. We would have did the same thing to my father's tobacco to his pipe, but he never smoked his pipe. The pipe was a part of his dresser's decor. Actually, it looked nice.
One day my mother's older first cousin -- maternal and paternal. Two brothers married two sisters. -- came for a visit. She saw my brother and me take my mother's cigarettes -- when my mother was not looking -- and throw them down our building's incinerator shaft. Our cousin approached us -- as we completed our mission -- and told us we were wrong, and disrespectful. We informed her that we did not want our mother to die of cancer. She was stunned, a little more understanding, but still believed we crossed the line.
Once my brother and I returned to our apartment my cousin informed my mother of what we did, and why. We were scared. Cigarettes were cheaper in the '70s, but it still costed money, and my mother did not believe in wasting money. I thought to myself, We in trouble . Then my mother said,
"Y'all, should have told me this first. I don't really smoke anyway. I'll stop smoking. It's a waste of money." I do not remember my brother's reaction to this news -- and reprieve -- but I remember being so relieved. The thought of my mother possibly dying from cancer was not a good thought for me at all.
So, years later, on a sunny weekend day, while away from home I totally forgot I did not want my mother to smoke, because smoking was bad her health. I forgot that one -- myself -- might get cancer, and soon die. No, when I was approached to try to smoke by one of my maternal aunts -- yes I said aunt. Yes, she was horrible. -- and two of her friends. I said,
"okay", because I was thinking about the circle I could blow out.
You know, the circle most well practiced smokers make with each smoke blown out. To me the only cool part about smoking was when I watched people blow out the smoke and it would form circles. It was like watching a clown pull something from his mouth. Without getting cancer of course. Still, very entertaining -- well, to me.
To myself, I thought, if I cannot blow a circle I will not be a smoker . Always nice to stand for something or you fall for anything. Right?
One of the three delinquents passed me a lit cigarette, and I studied it briefly, and thought about how I would get that circle out and then look cool. I took a puff, I blew out, I coughed, then choked, there was no circle, I did not look cool, so I passed it along, and started to walk away. My aunt wanted me to stay and said,
"Girl, try again. It's okay. Everybody chokes at first."
"Na, that's okay. I did not blow a circle that's why I choked."
She and her friends started laughing so hard, and I began walking away again. When she -- my aunt -- called out again, she said,
"Girl, you crazy, that takes time."
I turned around, did not walk back towards them, but I called back and said,
"That's okay, I don't want to smoke."
I heard them still laughing, but they did not respond as I continued to walk away, hoping to find someone to hang out with who may be a smoker, but would not try to make me smoke as my own -- five years my senior -- aunt had tried.
See, I had no fear that my aunt would ever try to force me do anything against my will. She may suggest, but she would never force it on me. Though most people in my aunt's neighborhood was afraid of her, she was afraid of my mother, her oldest sibling. So, I was not afraid of her ....
So, I do not smoke today, because I could not blow out a circle with my smoke. Well, it may not be the best story to stop teens from smoking, but none of my younger siblings are smokers, and none of their children smoke. Especially the teenagers.
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Thank you.
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Wow ! amazingly beautiful write /Hub/Story of a great family and Life /And a wonderful message ! i voted this up ,beautiful, awesome,useful,interesting ,and if they would have had a "damn good " button , you would have gotten it too ! :) thanks for the read!:)
Hi Sasta10,
I thank you so much for your kind words.
I knew I did not want to smoke. Unfortunately my maternal aunt -- OMG -- did not really care about me her younger niece. LOL.
The images they are showing now -- in general -- are scary. They freak me out also.
Again, thanks for your ... comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
Very nice story, enjoyed reading it. I wish everybody is like this and do their bit to stop people from smoking. Smoking is bad and when I see these awful pictures on the back of cigarette packets that warns people about danger of smoking it really freaks me out. Thank God I never smoked in my life. Thanks for the great hub.
Hi Snowysilver,
Wow, that is a lovely praise.
Thank you so much for your ... comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
Your stories are always so engaging. You have a way of bringing the reader into your world. Very nicely done
Hello Sunshine625,
LOL.
When I was sixteen years old my mother actually told me that I could stop sneaking around smoking, and I had permission to smoke in the house.
I was stunned briefly into silence. That is a hard thing for me to do. LOL. Be silent.
My baby brother -- he was 8 years old -- was waiting for me to say, "Okay." and pull out a cigarette I think. LOL.
Instead I replied, "Mommy, I don't smoke."
"Oh, okay." She had a slight smile of relief. LOL.
Not for a minute do I believe my mother really was going to let me smoke in her home. I think she just wanted to know if I was a smoker. LOL.
Thanks so much for your comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
Motivating story, my mama would have slapped upside the head!!! :) voted up and awesome!!
Hey Writer20,
It seems that when we become teenager we try to smoke. LOL. My mother started at 13 also. LOL.
You are right about us not knowing how cigarettes will affect anyone. Wow, 92 is a great age. I would love to be able to say that about both my parents.
Thank you for your comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
I tried a couple around 13 they made me cough so hard. I have never tried another one, now that I'm the grand old age of 60 something I never will. Although my Mother has smoked lightly all her life and now she's 92, so you never know how cigarettes affect you.
Hi Teylina,
Thank you for briefly sharing your family's story with me. I liked it a lot.
It really is tough for a child to see parents smoking when they are learning that cigarette smoking can kill.
When you are young you fear your parents dying, and do anything to keep them around longer. That is mostly, because you fear others in your family raising you. LOL. At least that is how my brother and I felt. LOL.
Thank you so much for your comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
I loved this insight and tale, and oh, how I can relate to when my daughter tried to get her dad to quit, and my granddaughter tried to get my son to quit!! I'm not a smoker, but each of them smoked (son, still) enough for all of us. Loved your tongue-in-cheek crack about standing up for something - but, hey, whatever works, works. Think it takes a brave young woman to walk away while others laugh at her! And thanks so much for the neat photos: a family! A real family (y'all look cool) for a real story!
Hello Liltu88,
I thank you so much for your kind praise.
Take Care,
N.E.
U r really talented...
Hi Justinbryan,
I thank you so much for your kind words.
Take Care,
N.E.
___________________________________________________________
Hey JasonPLittleton,
Thank you for your kind comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
____________________________________________________________
Hi Guanta,
I truly appreciate your kind words.
Most former smokers say they loved smoking. Why else would they smoke right? LOL.
Still, you seem happy you are no longer smoking. I am happy for you. Wish you luck.
Thank you for sharing your personal story.
Take Care,
N.E.
Thank you for your Hub, N.E. Wright. It was excellent. I started smoking when I was a teenager and continued for about the next twenty years. I must say I loved to smoke, it filled some kind of deep need for me. But I am glad to report that I quit a while ago and I know I'm not going back.
Nice hub.
Nice hub, i enjoyed while reading
Hello Cloverleaf,
Wow, five years with no smoking. Way too cool.
I never started smoking, because I could not blow smoke circles. LOL.
I am with you though anything that stops a person is good to me also.
Thank you so much for your comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
Hi Orangecountyjill,
So sorry about your Mother ....
It can tick you off that someone who does the right things with their health dies early in life, and others who do drugs, and drink way too much live a relatively long life.
My son was struggling last year with his reading. I had to read to him mostly. Now he reads to me. I have to explain the meanings of some words most of the time, and so his understanding is growing also.
I have to admit I am very proud. Can you feel my smile? LOL.
Yeah Hubpages for kids sounds great to me. He is working on Star Wars 7. LOL. Don't tell him I told you. LOL.
Thank you so much for your comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
Congratulations on quitting smoking! I too am smoke free now (5 years). I think everybody needs to find a reason to quit - whatever the reason may be - otherwise there is just no force strong enough to kick the habit. Not being able to blow smoke circles is as good a reason as any! Hey, where there's a will there's a way...!
So cool that you and your brother were so strong as kids. I used to throw away people's cigarettes too! None of my immediate family smoked and I hated it like you did.
I did lose my mom. She died at 43 years old from breast cancer. I had kind of a weird perspective for a kid. It made me angry to see people do things that harmed them, when my mom did everything possible to try to be healthy and still died of cancer.
PS...So impressed that your son reads at this level at 7! Wouldn't it be cool if there were Hub Pages for kids where they could write and upload pictures they created???
So cool that you and your brother were so strong as kids. I used to throw away people's cigarettes too! None of my immediate family smoked and I hated it like you did.
I did lose my mom. She died at 43 years old from breast cancer. I had kind of a weird perspective for a kid. It made me angry to see people do things that harmed them, when my mom did everything possible to try to be healthy and still died of cancer.
Hi Movie Master,
I am happy for you with your two months of not smoking.
I thank you for for your kind words.
Take Care,
N.E.
Great hub, well done you for not smoking! I haven't had one for 2 months now....
Hello Chamilj,
A neighbor once told me a pack of cigarettes were about $15.00. I looked at her like she was crazy, because she was a smoker, and could not afford a lot of things, but she made sure she had cigarettes. LOL.
Thank God I never smoked. LOL.
Thanks for your praise.
Take Care,
N.E.
Smoking is a useless money wasting thing person can do. I never smoked. Great Hub!
Hello Samantha,
Wow, that is a young age, but I remember seeing some young kids walking past some friends and me once cursing and smoking. If they were six years old they were old. My friends and I were twelve, and stunned. LOL.
It all seems to have to do with peer pressure.
I use to warm one of my little nieces against smoking, but she was determined to pretend everything and anything was a cigarette.
Then one day we were watching this horrible children's program -- Dudley The Dragon. Sorry. I hated that show. LOL. -- and that day's episode had to do with smoking.
That show turned my niece against smoking. I still hate the show -- LOL -- but I love that episode to this day. LOL.
I thank you for sharing your story, and I thank you for your kind words.
Take Care,
N.E.
I started smoking at ten! Can you believe that??? I finally quit this year. I lecture my children on the effects of smoking and really hope that they make the right decision. Thanks so much for sharing this funny story. I look forward to reading more of your hubs.
Hey Zduckman,
You are correct .... LOL.
I thank you so much for your praise.
Take Care,
N.E.
Great Hub !!! There is nothing "cool" about tar filled lungs
Great Hub !!! There is nothing "cool" about tar filled lungs
Hi Balinese,
I am with you. LOL.
Hope you had a HAPPY EASTER also.
Take Care,
N.E.
no smoking - healthy lung :)
happy easter N.E
cheers
Hi Tillsontitan,
I was a rebel. LOL. Everyone smoked to look cool. I thought it looked stupid. LOL.
Thank you for your comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
Hurray for you! I wish I had had your willpower.
Hello Sambruen1980,
Wow, you father sounds great. LOL. He did not scream at you, he just showed you the results of smoking. I love it. LOL.
I thank you for your praise, but most importantly -- to me -- I thank you so much for sharing this insightful story.
Take Care,
N.E.
Great blog, an interesting read and very informative too.
I started smoking at the age of 14 due to peer pressure from friends, I did not like it but I continued to do it until I was 16. I guess I did it for the main reason like so many other young people do and that is to ''look cool'' in front of their friends. Anyway, when I was 16 I was with some friends and smoking, my dad walked past and saw me for the first time ever smoking a cigarette. He had no idea until then, nor did my mom. They were/are both strict roman catholics and very much against smoking. I was scared and worried that he would slap me, shout at me, ground me but he said calmy ''if you get cancer dont come crying to me'' That evening he took me to the local hospital and made me look through the door that led to the cancer ward and he said to me the same words he said earlier that day ''dont come crying to me if you get cancer'' and since that day I have never EVER smoked again and I never want to. Thanks to my dad :)
Hello GarnetBird,
I am sorry to hear about your lung damage due to second-hand smoking.
I always heard that second-hand smoking dangerous to others, but I never heard from anyone who actually had smoke related problems from someone else's smoking around them.
Again, sorry to hear that.
I thank you for your kind words about this article.
Take Care,
N.E.
GOOD HUB/I have permanent lung damage from my stepfather's chain smoking (2nd hand smoke) and can't live a day without an inhaler and an anti-histamine. So refreshing to read a Hub about this!
Hey MysteryPlanet,
Nice Twain quote. I love his work, and his life was to be mostly admired. LOL. He was a character .... LOL.
I wish you luck with not smoking. Are you using any non-smoking aids? I was at a function ... and one of my second cousins told me she stopped smoking and she uses a nicotine patch. She said she has not cravings for smoking, and she had been using it for 28 days.
My cousin is in her 60s, and she has been smoking since I was a child in the '60s. Over 40 years. I was stunned.
If she can do it -- okay it is less than 30 days. LOL. -- anyone can.
Take Care,
N.E.
Mark Twain said "Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it hundreds of times" I always thought that was funny and I have probably quite a hundred times myself. The hard think is not quitting but to stay quit. Right now it has been since early January that I smoked a cigarette. Off and on I smoked for more than 30 years. For many of those years I hated it and yet I did it anyway.
Best regards to you and thanks for "following" me here.
Hello Imoynihan082,
I wish you and you husband all the luck in the world.
Take Care,
N.E.
hi N.E I wish I was a non smoker I am really going to try to quit and encourage my husband to do so as well wish us luck !
Hello Nikki,
I am still smoke free!!! LOL.
Thank you for your kind words.
Take Care,
N.E.
You all are lovely! Let us remain smoke free! Thanks, Nikki D. Felder
Wow Chris,
I did not know that.
Sorry I did not tell you my silly ... story, but it was nothing to be proud of. LOL.
I did not care about what most of my peers did. Some of those people were criminals. LOL. I was not copying them.
I am happy you ended up not smoking either. LOL.
Hey, at least your Aunts -- me .... LOL. -- did not try and get you to smoke. My loser Aunt tried to do everything to corrupt me when I was a kid. LOL. What a loser.
Thanks so much for reading my work niece.
Love,
Aunt Natalie
Wow I like this hub.... Never knew that u tried before. I remember I attempted to yes me the health fanatic that was just like you begging and pleasing with my mom to stop smoking and anyone else I came into contact with that smoked. Well this one day at the age of 16 I attempted to only because all my peers did this and I didn't know what the big fuss was about it And I figured let me just try it just to see. So it did and the one puff was horrible and I told my peers I was with they were dumb for smoking and I was back to my self antismoking Christina again. It was dumb that I tried it but it was also great that I didn't continue with it
Hello Amymarie_5,
LOL. You are correct. I did not want to smoke. LOL.
My aunt was a jerk. LOL. She wanted me to smoke and I knew she would not let me alone until I at least did it once. So I set it up in my head. If I did not blow the circle I will not smoke. LOL.
It is so funny how you caught that, when I truly did not realize that myself until you mentioned it. LOL. I laughed and thought, 'that's true.' LOL.
I thank you so much for your comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
I think deep down you knew you wouldn't be able to blow a circle and looking for a good reason at the time not to keep smoking. I smoked for a long time and was very addicted. Quitting was the hardest thing I ever did. I'm glad to hear you stuck with your decision to not smoke. It takes courage to say no - especially to your aunt.
Hello Theseus,
I agree with all that you say. Unfortunately, to kids, smoking looks cool.
My son chokes every time he actually smells cigarette smoke. No one is around us smoking at that time he just smell the lingering smoke and hates it. He screams about it all the time. Poor thing. LOL.
So, again you are right. Smoking does effect non-smokers. My son is seven.
I thank you for your kind comments.
Take Care,
N.E.
N.E.Wright,
Good that you did not do it.
I can't understand why people smoke in the first place. Not only does it cause harm to the smoker himself but it causes a graver danger to the health of non-smokers who happen to inhale the fumes.
Well done hub.
Hey, Will, it would have been me if I could have done that smoke circle. LOL. Lucky I could not do it. LOL.
At least you quit. That is what counts now.
Take Care,
N.E.
Smart move! I succumbed to the desire to be cool and smoked for decades before I was finally able to quit.
I'm happy you refused to bend to peer pressure.
Thanks for sharing this.
Oh, Irenemaria, I am sorry to hear that.
Actually that does sound truly unfair.
I did not know that once you start smoking -- even if you stopped -- you are at risk of getting inflammation in your lungs.
Again, sorry to hear about your chronicle sickness in your lungs.
Thanks for sharing that private information. I truly appreciate it.
Thinking of you.
Please take care,
N.E.
I stopped smoke for over 30 years ago and NOW I got the chronical sickness that smokers get. unfair! My doc told me that once you started to smoke you are in the risk of get that inflamation in your lungs.
Hello Arunix,
I am happy I could not make a circle while blowing out the smoke. LOL.
It is not our culture to teach younger children to smoke. It was a terrible aunt I had -- and have -- who did not care about me at all. She wanted me to do bad things in life. She always had. She was like that with all her nieces and nephews. Some people are just rotten. She is one of those people. LOL.
What I promised myself is that I would not be like her ....
I hope the campaign your government is starting partly helps. The other part is the parents. My mother and father did not smoke.
I hope this article does help the younger children you know.
Thank you for your kind words.
Take Care,
N.E.
wow....... i am happy for u.. do not smoke and your hub page encourage others not to smoke. we in Sri Lanaka no any person ask younger once to take cigarettes.its not our culture but still loads of school children taking. because its easily grab them... now under our presidents advise government have started a campaign calls to put pulls top to all these i.e. cigarette, drugs, alcohol.
wanted our younger one to see this kind of articles to learn.how bad it is..
Hello again Gajanis786,
I am lucky I did not make that circle. LOL.
You are right though, I do feel lucky I am not a smoker.
Take Care,
N.E.
You are very lucky that you resolved not to smoke and stuck to this.....great determination.Good luck.
Hi Fucsia,
Wow, I really thank you for your kind words.
You are right life always have surprises and some are truly sad.
You Take Care,
N.E.
I read your Hub.... And then I read of your loss... So I do not really know what I want to write in this comment. Life is always a surprise, many times a sad one. The only way we can do is continue to love the life. The choise not to smoke is a choise of love.
Hello Ahostagesituation,
Well, I am happy I could not make a circle. LOL. I would be spending $15.00 a pack. OMG!!! LOL.
Sad to hear about your dad, it was -- and is -- the same with most of my relatives. My mother would show us the negative side of drug use. We watched her siblings nodding all the time.
My mother never covered things up about how drugs use was bad ....
Oh, thank you so much for your lovely comments.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
This is really sweet, and your son is adorable! My parents were both smokers, and said that even after they quit they'd dream of smoking randomly out of nowhere. Tough addiction. My dad did a few different drugs, but he said that smoking was easily the hardest habit to kick. Glad you choose no to. Thanks for the mail! (or attempt ;-})
Hello NP.QUEEN,
I really am happy I am not smoking. One for the health reasons, and the other is it truly is costly. LOL.
A few weeks ago, a neighbor told me a pack ... cost $15.00. I asked her if she meant a carton and she just laughed at me. LOL.
Thank you so much for your comments.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Hi Wright,
You have done a great thing in your life that u stopped yr smoking.It is really giving happiness to the readers.
Hello Wendy,
I am impressed.
Thank you so much for your comments.
Very well written hub. I quit smoking when I was 25. I went cold turkey and never smoked again.
Hi SS Sneh,
Thank you so much for your nice comments.
Hi N.E. Wright! Good story. Nicely written! -- Thanks
Izetti,
LOL, I had a terrible Aunt. LOL.
Thanks for your comments.
_________________________________________________________
KungFuKid,
I am so happy I did not get hooked also. LOL.
Thanks for your comments.
_________________________________________________________
Kennynext,
Unfortunately, I already have High Blood Pressure, and heart problems run through my family and neither of my parents smoke.
Still, I am happy none of us -- my three younger siblings also -- smoke.
Thanks for your comments.
Smoking is the hardest thing to quit and should never be started. It not only causes cancer, but also high blood pressure. heart problems, and COPD. Thank you for not starting.
your health is your most important asset. I'm glad you didn't get hooked.
Well thank goodness for not being able to blow a circle in smoke. I thought that looked cool too, like the catterpillar in Alice in Wonderland. I never even tried it. I wanted to spend my money on clothes. I worked too hard as a busser in a restuarant. Neither of my parents smoked so I'm sure that helped. Great hub!
Thank you, Agvulpes, for your kind words.
I have mostly watched love ones die from being drug addicts, or alcoholics. None of it was pretty.
My great aunt and older cousin has cancer. At first neither one of them would talk to anyone about it. They avoided us. They seem to be okay now....
I keep hearing that it does not matter how old you are when you stop it just matters that you stop.
I have never judged people who smoked. As I state in the article I could have been a smoker.
Plus, I have this thing about choice. That is why I am a liberal. LOL.
Great story. Anything that will stop people from smoking must be a good thing. I watched relations and friends die from Lung Cancer caused by smoking so I stopped the habit when I was about 50 years old. Good Hub and I hope it helps someone give up smoking :-)
Hello Vanessa, Thank you for your kind words.
My sibling are still laughing at me for that old photo. LOL. I am just glad my friend did not have one with me and my Afro. LOL.
Got to love the '80s.
I just loved that story. I must let my daoughters read it. Nice to see the retro pics of wen we were in high school.
Thank you for your kinds words.
I am actually on vacation, and I am finding it very difficult to write an article with 8 children and a total of three adults. LOL.
I plan to resume writing once I am back home and my son is back in school.
N E Wright , Nice stories, I like your writng and I think you should continue with more , you have a way with words.
Thank you all for your kinds words.
Hee hee.... I think that´s great!!!!
No circle...
No smoking.
Good for you.
I had experimented with cigarette-smoking at age 14 when I was visiting one of my aunts one summer in South Carolina. I had actually stolen one of her cigarettes while she was in another room. I hid in the bathroom, and took one puff. It was disgusting. The taste alone was the deal-breaker for me. It was the last puff I ever took. I tried to blow circles as well. It didn't work. Great Hub!
I feel so bad that I had not responded to anyone's comments on my hubs for almost a year now. My five year old nephew died Last year in October and I just could not bring myself to come on to these pages, because most of my stories deal with family and posting pictures, and the last picture I took of him was at my home a few weeks before he died.
I will be reading your Hub post also.
Enjoyed your hub...Trying to quit and this is a very motivational hub...
N.E.Wright,
I enjoyed your hub!
I am so pleased that you decided smoking was not for you.
I had an Uncle who I always admired. He was a kind man and always tastefully dressed like a gentlemen, was neat, strong yet well mannered, owned his own business and was a trustee at his church. One thing bothered me; He also always had a cigar. I asked him about it? He told me he only used fine tobacco? He said it wasn't the same but was better than smoking cigarettes? But when it was all said and done he died of cancer.
Smoking is not only unattractive it is quite unhealthy!
You made a very wise decision!
Blessings
When I was a teenager, I thought smoking looked "real cool," so I tried it and thought that I looked "real cool." When I say tried it, I would buy a pack of cigarettes and keep them for months, only pulling one out when I wanted to look "cool." As I got older I became more health conscious, and decided that smoking wasn't for me, and that it didn't make me look cool at all. My ex-husband use to say that a woman looked unattractive with a cigarette "gaped in her mouth," (his expression). Needless to say that was an additional deterrent. So I agree that smoking is not good for you, and is also unattractive.
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krazikat 10 months ago
I didn't walk away,and started smoking when I was 14. I no longer smoke, but it was years of trying to quit before I finally could do it. I love the creativity, honesty, and great story telling here. Well done!