Relentless

About 21 years ago, I quit smoking on the last day of August. I felt euphoric for the first few days, then I had to move, and I mean move, constantly. At my office job I offered to deliver mail, run errands, do the heavy lifting. In my car I chewed gum, sang with the radio, rolled up the windows and screamed. With friends I opted for things like dancing, babysitting, swimming--anything active.

But I still had down times that had to be filled. The best thing was walking. I lived in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles, and I did all possible errands on foot. One day, I got the idea to drive up to Pasadena to a hiking trail I'd read about.

I don't know how hot it was, but it was hot, and it was noon, and I had no experience with mountain hiking. About three miles up the trail, when I saw no cover from the sun and I was so thirsty I could have chewed a cactus, I noticed no one was out there but me and decided maybe I had picked the wrong day. I stopped, looked out over the San Gabriel Valley and told myself I didn't have to kill myself to quit smoking. In fact, that was missing the point.

Years later, hiking the Sam Merrill Trail, recognition tapped me gently on the shoulder and I realized I was on the same trail, in the same spot where I'd turned around that day. It was not three miles, not even one mile up the trail. With the shape my lungs were in back then, it had only felt like I'd gone that far.

21 years later and by no means an athlete, I can still outdo my younger, smoking self. I'll prove it when the weather cools.

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Still Life

The news says the president has quit smoking. It's not easy and I congratulate anyone who achieves it. I did it myself once and it was so hard I haven't so much as taken a single puff since August 31st, 1991, because I never want to have to quit again.

I feel sorry for people who are addicted to cigarettes and I try not to be too hard on them. I remember feeling shame associated with smoking--you're sent outside to indulge in your habit. You can't smoke in civilized places and many people don't even smoke in their own homes.

To those who have never experienced addiction, the need is difficult to describe. The nearest I can come is to say it's like hunger. Your body tells you when you need food and if you don't get it, you crave it. The longer you go without food the stronger the craving gets.

The craving is the same with cigarettes.

The difference is, your body is lying to you.

Heavenly Pub

This is one of our favourite pubs here in Toruń...Niebo (meaning 'Heaven'). It's warm, cosy and has friendly bar staff. It's even better now that is completely smoke-free (since the Polish ban on smoking). You can now only smoke in a bar if they provide a completely separate ventilated room. Having said, one or two of the Poles have already been known to have lit up in pubs since the ban. Sooner or later they will be caught and will have to pay a fine.

Come & Get your Beer!!

This sign says it all!!! Like most pubs here in Toruń, this pub is situated down in a cellar...which provides great atmosphere but little ventilation from all the heavy smokers here in Poland!!

Archway to the outside world

This is the view looking up, as you climb the stairs back up from the "Niebo" ("Heaven") pub in the Old Square of Toruń. Most pubs in Toruń are hidden below in the basement and many offer attractive surroundings. Unfortuantely, due to the lack of ventilation...many are smoke traps. All you need to do is walk in a pub here for a few seconds...and already you will stink like an ashtray! Bring on the anti-smoking law like in the UK!