I gave up and smoked my last cigarette on New Years Day 1983. My ex-husband had been advised to stop and I felt that it would be unfair for me to keep on smoking.

There was a period of time when I would have walked on broken glass for a cigarette but the real cravings only lasted for about six months and then it was more habit that was making me miss smoking.

It helped that I had real withdrawal symptoms - stomach cramps were the worst- and had a very uncomfortable week getting past that. That kept me from starting again, the thought of having to go through that extreme discomfort was enough to keep me tobacco free.

After a while the thought of starting again just made me 'taste' that cigarette and THAT made me feel ill. I went through a long period of being fiercly anti smoking but then got to a little toleration, especially since my best buddy at the time was a smoker (luckily of roll ups, which don't have quite the pervasiveness of tailor mades). Since Kendall and I got together the idea of going out with him to anywhere where smoking is allowed is a no no. He lost his voice as a result of the habit and, if you've heard any of his CDs, you will know what a loss that was.

Nowadays there are so many aids to stopping smoking and the financial savings really do make it worthwhile. Best of luck to anyone out there who is trying to give up the weed.