All of my childhood I was subjected to my mother's heavy smoking. My place at the table was next to her and she had a cigarette going during the meal. We had power struggles when I refused to wash smelly ashtrays with the dishes. I moved out as soon as I could and never went back, because I hated the smoke.

Her addiction was strong. She was a really smart woman, but she ignored our requests that she not smoke in our bedrooms, in our presence. She alienated most of us with that behavior.

I have kept my fingers crossed my whole adult life that her smoking isn't lurking in the background to affect my health. No one is allowed to smoke in my house, they are welcome to go outside and I have a seating area they can use. I work on a no smoking campus, so when I smell smoke I've been known to walk over to the corner where the offender is sneaking a smoke and insisting they put it out. Yes. I'm still angry about it all.

I avoided bars, music venues, even restaurants for years because I hated being held captive by the smokers. One smoker can stink up a whole room for everyone else. Now most of those places are smoke-free, but I'm out of the habit of trying to go out to clubs.

SRS