kalanamak wrote:

> Dan Abel wrote:
>
> > Quitting smoking is a good thing for *everybody*, but that seems like
> > about the worst time possible, psychologically.
> >
> I disagree. I have seen many long-time smokers go cold turkey
> when they have a compelling "reason": pregnancy, heart attack, some
> bad disease foist on them: it is as if they "see the light" or they
> make a bargain: I stop smoking now, and I'll respond to the chemo.
> Humans often respond to adversity by mustering beliefs and courage
> didn't know they possessed.
> I, in my stop smoking pitch, tell the patient about how many people
> quit after a heart attack, proving quitting is possible
> and urging them to stop before their first MI. I've had few people
> quit, and even fewer lose weight and radically bring their sugars
> down, but each time is so rewarding, I always hope. Once I was begging
> a lady at the fruit stand for some boysenberries (they were out). She
> finally looked up at me and squawked my name along with "you saved my
> life!" Then in a sotto voce she said "come back at five" and she
> had a whole flat for me.
> blacksalt
> ObFood: baby has discovered ketchup, and a mere spot of it on a dish
> will amke him eat *anything* but green peas. Kiddo (getting a little
> big for "baby") loves to watch me cook, and stands on a stool shouting
> HOT, KOOKing, SHARP-OWIE and, when watching me mix anything, "round an
> round an round an round"

Wish I had some grandbabies. Just as a side note, it took me 10 years and 8
tries before I quit smoking. Been over 6 years now. Finally read where
patches best used for about 3 times longer than package recommended. And I
got good n' mad at the producers and myself. My GP never did have any faith
in me, the bum. Just don't stop trying, never stop asking our smoker loved
ones (only infrequently) "Have you thought about quitting?" Wish I was as
successful at weight loss, maybe need to get mad at Hershey and them durned
elves...
Edrena, pickling 60# of asparagus