I quit about 7 years ago. Didn’t want my daughter picking it up from me, and was tired of the addiction. I smoked 2-3 packs a day and would sometimes light a cigarette from the last one.

Back in 1999 20/20 or 60 Minutes did a show on how the government caught various companies using chemicals that weren’t necessary for tobacco that were addictive. I believe they are using new ones that do the same thing as when I switched from Marlboros to American Spirits I didn’t get the fix I needed. Took 3 days of will power I’m not known for when it came to cigarettes and after that my intake was cut in half! I finally quit within a year of that and haven’t looked back. I often am reminded how glad I am that I quit when it’s cold or raining or too damn hot, especially in the truck.

Karmen was skeptical of me picking up cigars again (wasn’t really in to them before) feeling I’d just become a chimney again. Sometimes I go a month without a stick and sometimes I might smoke 3 in a week, but usually it’s one to three times a month.