I broke up with the Marlboro Man...

My best friend in 6th grade taught me how to smoke, you take a drag and then a sudden gasp as you say "MAMA'S COMING!" Then you cough like crazy while exhaling.

That's how I became the Marlboro Red Girl I was, and continued for the next 18 years. I was really good at it too. A total die hard smoker, before I went to bed, first thing in the morning, after meals, and of course after I completed anything.

I ended up quitting 4 years ago today, well technically, that is if you go by leap year. It has actually been 16 years. When leap year came in 2000, I decided to give quitting a go... I figured if it didn't work, I could always deny there was a February 29th (youth reasoning).

Well it worked. Still hard to believe so long ago. I can't imagine smoking today and back then, I couldn't imagine my not smoking.

In hindsight, my best trick was spending my cigarette money on fresh flowers. I would put them on my desk at work and all over my apartment. I would look at them "breathing" and it would help me to stay strong, remembering the clean air. I also knew not to "cheat", and have that "just one".

I am happy to say that though I don't smoke anymore, I am not a cigarette hater—just really happy I am no longer their girl.

Smoker? Slightly inspired, even for a second?
Maybe why not. ??