One year ago, today

[usaf-vet]

38. Two points about smoking. The first has always generated an unanswered question in my mind. The second was my.......

.... the story of quitting.

Point one...Question: Where and when did you start smoking? I can tell you the exact day, almost to the hour: October 25-26, 1965, sometime (sunrise) on the early morning of my first full day in USAF boot camp. A bunch of strangers stood outside what turned out to be a WW II two-floor military barracks. Where our new "angry" drill sergeant is asking who would like to be on the first floor? A bunch of hands went up. Not mine (I remembered the warning I heard from my dad and uncles NEVER VOLUNTEER). The DI then said you "idiots" are on the second floor. The next question was, who smokes? Up went the hands. The DI then said, "Idiots," get two 15-minute smoke breaks a day OUTSIDE; the rest stay in the barracks and polish boots, etc. During the first break that day, I was outside getting ready to light up my first-ever cigarette.
So the question how many smokers or former smokers start smoking during military boot camp? I think it will be lots.

Point two... I also remember the exact day I stopped smoking and never looked back. April 21, 1973. My son was born that day; he is now 51 years old. I'm now 77 and ticking, so I'm guessing it was a great time to quit.