Ronni Quit Smoking

All stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning of my story starts 39 years ago at the age of 14 when trying to impress my gorgeous older brother's friends. I decided smoking was the way to do it. I would go to the gas station and spend $.30 in the machine. Oh boy did I look grown up - my habit continued for 39 years through asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and to top it all off, I have been an insulin dependent diabetic for many, many years. Gee, I am sure smoking helped the circulation problems diabetics have.

I would cough so bad that I would use my inhaler, and then my nebulizer, all the while waiting for a breath of air so I could go out and smoke again. Many nights I would literally throw up because I was wheezing so bad, and still I smoked on. I smoked through 3 pregnancies, children begging Mom to quit...5 grandkids...please grandma, don't smoke...and I continued.

One early morning last August 11th at 8 am, I was outside coughing and smoked the last one out of the pack. I went into the house to get my last pack out of the carton, and it wasn't there. Now, if you're a smoker, you always know how many cigarettes you have. I am sure that I just miscalculated, but somehow it was a sign...the thought of going out to the 7-11 to get cigarettes crossed my mind, but I looked up at the sky and said I am not going to smoke anymore. I have not had one puff since. Call it a religious experience, call it a coincidence or whatever, I knew I would not smoke again. I have strong personal beliefs, but am not religious.

One month into my quit, my darling beloved husband was diagnosed with cancer. He survived two surgeries and is doing wonderfully now...still I didn't smoke. I lost an 18 year job by a boss setting me up and for all this time until 3 weeks ago, I was blackballed and could not find work. Still I didn't smoke. I had chest pains and had an angioplasty in January. Still I didn't smoke. I had a major falling out with one of the daughters, and still I didn't smoke. I guess my point here is if you are waiting for a stress-free time, it will never happen.

Quit now while you can. I did and if I can, anyone can. Bless this site for helping me make it through the rough times.

You can do it.

~Ronni~(Adriennesgrandma)