Vince wrote:
> I kept quitting from 1995 until 1999 and then, taking Welbutrin, on the
> patch, chewing the gum, I finally made it when I saw my grandson trying
> to smoke from cigarette butts in the ash tray and my second grandson was
> born. Quitting was hell, but worth it.
Thanks for the compassionate post! ;-) I have a friend who smoked 3 packs a
day for over 30 years and nothing worked to help him quit until he was
prescribed Welbutrin. All of my doctors are now recommending Xyban (or is
is Zyban?) which is a mild anti-anxiety medication that seems to be the
currently preferred drug to help people successfully quit. I know I will
have to go this route at some point.
I also wanted to comment more about Joni. I really don't think she is
trying to glamorize smoking or even to be obstinate. I believe, as she
says, that she is extremely addicted and has been completely unsuccessful at
quitting. This may sound strange to some people, but I think that when she
poses for photos or in her paintings with a cigarette, it is kind of her way
of being honest with the public ("yep, I'm addicted") and perhaps also
making a wry empathetic statement to fellow people afflicted that "yep, I'm
one of the pariah, too." It looks rebellious on the surface and in a way it
is, but it is not being rebellious for the sale of rebellion, or meant to
encourage people to smoke because it's cool and glamorous. She knows it's
not healthy, but she is, so far powerless to stop it. Most every smoker who
lives in California (that would include Joni) these days are NOT considered
glamorous or cool - we are mostly ridiculed, shunned, given dirty looks or
tossed outside like an unwanted stray cat. It's predominately "socially
incorrect" to smoke here.
Kakki
