By: hassan_11

hassan_11 — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 13:26:19 +0000

Pam - hope you have a wonderful time especially enjoying all that warm
sunshine!!!!
I went on a works night out last night - me and 11 men/boys - so there were
12 of us - 6 smokers and 6 non smokers. When I first went into the
restaurant 4 of the smokers were there and they all lit up simultaneously.
At first the smell was gorgeous and I did think that it would be nice to
‘join them’.
But then I thought did I really want to stand there inhaling all that hot
burning smoke and stuff into my lungs and making myself look really foolish
with this white thing with burning smoke at the end going back and forwards
to my mouth.
And guess what the answer was a very BIG NO.
As the night wore on it was interesting watching them cos they couldn’t even
get through the meal without having to get up and have a cig!!!!!
After the meal we went into a small club which was awful - as soon as I

walked in the stench hit me and I was enveloped in a cloud of smoke, my eyes
were stinging and I could feel the smoke hitting the back of my throat. It
was awful.
Fortunately we weren’t there too long but when I got home I was stinking so
had to febreeze my clothes - even my underwear was smelling so had a shower
and got into a nice smoke free smelling bed.
I am so glad I am a non smoker and have to tell you that after the initial
‘pang’ there were no more to deal with for the rest of the night,.
I expect the group will be really quiet and hope that you enjoy the time with
your brother Pat - thanks for your post again it was inspirational.
I will be around until Monday but like you all will be busy so will be
dipping in and out and hopefully might catch up with some of you but just in
case I don’t - whatever you choose to do over the holidays Have a Good One.
Namaste
Indi

By: Norbert Fox

Norbert Fox — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 06:18:08 +0000

Happy, happy holidays to all of you. My son will be flying in tomorrow
night so I will also be very busy over the next few days. But I did
want to step in here and wish you all a wonderful holiday season. And
may the New Year see all of you smoke free and enjoying life like you
haven’t in a long, long time.
Smoke Freedom…. I am celebrating my freedom on Christmas Day. I
remember so clearly when I reached my first Christmas smoke free. Since
I had quit smoking on the 25th, that day saw me celebrating my 7 month
milestone. (The post that I wrote for that milestone is the shortest
post of any that I have written, then or now. Smile.)
By that time, 7 months, I was finally feeling like I just may reach one
year. More than one year smoke free was still a dream and hard to
fathom ’cause I had tried so many times to quit. So at that point, I
still wasn’t willing to say this quit was forever. But I knew on that
first Christmas day I was well on my way.

I can remember sitting down to Christmas dinner. I remember enjoying
the tastes of the meal. Oh my. I bake Shoo Fly pie for dessert and
that first taste was just heavenly. But the best part for me? I got to
sit there and enjoy the after dinner conversation and not miss one
joyful word because of *a need* to get up and go outside in the freezing
cold to feed my habit. It struck me that I had given myself the
greatest gift of this holiday season, that of quitting smoking.
So enjoy this day of celebration with your family and friends. Hug
away!!! And inside know that you have given yourself the greatest gift
that you could possibly give…. that of getting free. It’s truly
wonderful, isn’t it?
Happy Holidays,
Pat

Comments on: Happy Christmas to everyone

By: hassan_11

By: Norbert Fox