June 25, 2001

 

All of my life I never had any interest in smoking a cigarette until I hit my mid twenties. What does this mean when you're THIS old and you think 'hey, that's an experience I haven't tried'? Did I think I was actually missing out? No. Did I think it would help me? Did I know it was bad for me? Of course, I am not naive people! ;)   

Well, my story goes as... me being a youngin at age 8 years old when I could have tried to smoke. My good friend from school had an older sister that snuck out some cigarettes from her father's jacket pocket so we all took it and walked to the park a few blocks down. There were only about 5 of us girls from the same school and it was on the weekend. Come to think of it, it was my friend Lelani's Birthday party. 

Anyhow, we all went to the park and stood there as Lelani was excited to light the cigarette. I told them right off, it stunk and my parents smoked... it wasn't anything special to do because of this. The girls looked stupid coughing so hard because they kept breathing in too deep. So I actually told them that and they all looked at me while their faces turned green. They had tummy aches the rest of the night, and by then they didn't even want cake and ice cream. ;)

Many years flash by and I never had the urge to even learn or try a cigarette. Well, ever since I turned 18 years old for years I would buy my mom her Marlboro box. I was ALWAYS accused by my checker friends (I worked at Vons for 4 years) that I was a closet smoker. Never letting anyone SEE me actually smoke. If I was one of those, don't you think I couldn't handle it after that many years of working there to just let people see me smoke? I used to tell them that but I knew they were just teasing me. They didn't think I was the 'type' to smoke. What is a type of person that smokes any ways?! What is that supposed to mean? Are you a bad person if you do? Forget that, I see all types of people who smoke.

After this many years, I want to LEARN how to smoke just in case a cute guy offered me one I wouldn't choke on it. Ok, yes... this is something very bad but he was a special guy, ya know? He probably would crack up laughing if I told him he's the reason why I tried to learn though. :I  Argh, glad he's out in Texas right now. ;)

That's a pretty lame reason huh? Well, I have done this before. I learned some German because I had a crush on a guy that spoke German fluent. :o  He knows English as much as I do but we'll not go into that topic. ;)   I also have been wanting to learn it since I was in High School but he did help give me a little help to push myself to the limit for 5 days learning it straight. I was learning it for at least 5-6 hours a day. Talk about a minor crush turning into hard work. Glad I am over that guy now. 

So I asked my friends at work since some of them smoked. PharCyde was a wimp about it. He stopped smoking but would smoke casually when people asked him to go outside for break time. He told me he didn't want to corrupt me. I walked over to Orbital's cube to ask him since PharCyde wouldnt.  His statement was that he didn't want to ruin me. What?!  Then I asked Carlos who was also no help. He told me that cigs were bad for me and he didn't want me to ruin my lungs. What a bunch of sweeties or should I say wimps! ;)

I stormed into Tetsuo's cube that night. He was my last hope for this sudden urge to learn how to smoke. As soon as I told him how hard it was to find someone to help me he started laughing. I think he thought I was playing a joke on him. He said, "You're not serious, are you?"  I told him I'd buy him a pack cigarettes if he would do this for me. That got us out of the door for a drive to the gas station down the street from work. 

We brought them back and he hands me matches with one cig. Then he tells me to PACK them. I am thinking what?! They are already in the package James! Then he says you know... slap them in one of your hands, it's called packing them. So finally I try to light my first cigarette and it takes 4-5 times with the match going out. It was hilarious. He's telling me to breathe in deeper and I was being wimpy about it. Finally once it's lit I am puffing fine like I have done it for years. I didn't cough at all. I figured it was like putting water in my mouth (not swallowing it) and spitting it out so that's how I used my breathing techniques (if that makes sense). 

So off with the pictures! Enjoy... or well, maybe these aren't suitable for any of my close friends who have been giving me bruises by punching me in the arm when I told them I have tried to smoke...  

Tetsuo Lesson #1 (Packing)
Tetsuo Lesson #2 (Light the Cig)

Tetsuo Lesson #3 (Relax and smoke... like I can?)

I have only smoked once since these pictures and it was a week after I had learned. It was an experience I don't regret because I learned something from it. I don't want to smoke but I understand why people do. It made me feel like I was doing something rather than just sitting outside talking and doing nothing. It was that feeling I have when I have a soda or ice tea glass in my hand. Does that make sense at all? 

It's just that overall feeling you're doing something and not just sitting there. All I know is that my breath stunk the rest of the night. I tried MANY different mints, none seemed to work. Then my hand that had the cigarette was washed about 17 times and the stink didn't come off until the morning. Or did I just get used to the tobacco smell? :o 

I got an ear full when I told my mom that I tried to learn weeks later. This wasn't fun to hear her so upset. She felt I was trying to get back at her by even trying to learn to smoke since she still does. Once I explained she was fine about it. She just hates the habit but still smokes. Hopefully some day she'll be able to get rid of it. 

Well, it was a blessing to learn but something I won't stick to so don't be getting on my case if you're a non-smoker! It was a season for me. Just a time where I wanted to try something new. I am grateful that Tetsuo was there to enlighten me to the smoker world for one day. He got chewed out by two people who thought he was the instigator of this crime. I think he went through a lot to help me out like he did. Thanks again James! :D

Current Status: I don't smoke...