I gave up my pipe on January 16, 1985. It was simple to do, since I had pneumonia at the time AND my wife made a few mild comments. Before that I was coughing for at least a half an hour every night after I went to sleep.

Yes, I miss it. I miss it most when I'm out fishing or taking a break in the outdoors. And I still have my pipes. But I don't smoke them.

Linn, Jacqui -- you're lucky you've got 'em and they're even luckier to have you. My late boss, back in Indiana, retired with emphysema and even after he was on oxygen would sneak out to the garage for a smoke. His wife, who quit when he announced his emphysema, couldn't stop him.

I've know too many whom tobacco-related disease has killed. All but one were Vietnam veterans, including my youngest brother. I don't know, but I suspect, a correlation.