The day the light went out.

This is in response to smoking.

I quit about 16 or 17 years ago. I was smoking three packs a day back then.

The last day of smokes.

I bought a carton of cigs at work. I got home, and decided I wanted to play some basketball with my son. We went to the park near where we lived.

It was a bright, sunny, warm summer afternoon. About 5 minutes of playing I couldn't breathe. I had to sit and catch my breath.

I decided that was enough. I went home took the carton of smokes and smashed them.

I had been wanting to quit for months. I read alot of anti-smoking material. I was very concerned about my 3am coughing episodes, and the price of cigs. At that time they were about $2.50 a pack.

After the park, I needed a plan. I didn't want to buy sugarless candy, too expensive. I decided to stop drinking soda and coffee as well. I drank alot of water, it has no calories.

I also needed to figure out how to stop the physical part. I found a small smooth stone. Whenever I had the urge to smoke I would rub the stone until the urge went away. I rubbed that stone alot those first few weeks. That stone saved my life.

At Walmart I saw a sign with the price of smokes. $8 a pack. If I were still smoking 3 packs a day it would cost me $24 a day or $8,760 a year!

Saving that much money is awesome. Maybe I'll go to Vegas.

Live, love, laugh, learn, listen,

Dave