Damn it, Spaw, I can't see for the tears. You lovely, lovely man. All of you, and women!

My Rog quit about three years ago, then things got ramped up at work, MORE stress, and I found out a few months later he'd started again. It was just 2-3 cigs per day and now is back up to a half a pack. Friends said not to bug him, but it pisses me off. My son does, too. I think of it as a slow form of suicide. Mostly I try to bless and release them to their "highest good," but in Roger's case I know I feel a lot of impotent anger. He's got decent health, no major problems, thank goodness, but we've got to find a way for him to retire, imo, for the stress levels to recede AND be able to have time to do some of the things we'd like on a shoestring budget (unless one of my books becomes a bestseller!)

Janie, sounds like you are beating yourself up a lot. Knowing you, here, I find it hard to think of you as selfish. I hope you find a way to peace.

gnu, I'm with you. My youngest dau. and her husband smoke. They go out on the porch, but my grandson still has to walk through there and still smells of smoke some days when he comes over. His dad is diabetic and has trouble with keeping it stable. I hope tobacco is a distant memory by the time Morgan grows up, but he's already eight. I do see huge anti-smoking signs which say "The Cigarette is Dead." If only it were true all over this land. My dad and brother both smoked pipes, but gave them up years ago and never had any problems, thank goodness.

Kendall, your message is good...do things while you can. Should be a maxim for everyone no matter the circumstances, but when we are young we are immortal as Spaw said and the German quote above.

Just remember this, I don't want to be the only old fart left in this joint someday, so ya'll stop it, now!**BG**

luvya'llkat