The Day I Quit

Well, it had been a frustrating day. I decided to leave the shop a little early since it had been a day that hadn't accomplished anything anyway. A short drink before heading home would relieve some stress so I stopped at the only bar I frequented. Since it was before quitting time there wasn't anyone there except an old friend of mine. I'll call him Charley.I always liked Charley. He was a nice guy, came from Old California stock and was educated abroad. We had many conversations over a glass of wine. The wine, however,Herbal cigarettes, had been his downfall. It had been responsible for tragic things in his life as well being a refuge for him when tragic things occurred. He looked much older than his years. The wine had taken it's toll on Charley.As we made small talk, I reached for my cigarettes, took one out and threw them on the bar. I pointed at the pack and said, "I wish I could quit these things". Charley, without hesitating,stop smoking, pointed at his glass of wine and said, "I wish I could quit this". There was hopelessness in his voice.I saw myself in Charley. We were both hooked on something that was destroying our health. It really made an imprint on me. I kept asking myself as I drove home, even after I stopped to pick up a pack of cigs, "When am I going to quit?" By the time I got home I decided today was the day I quit after 36 yrs. of smoking. It was the toughest thing I ever did. Made Boot Camp seem like a vacation paradise. I hung on, posted on the board, gritted my teeth every morning and faced another day without cigarettes.Charley was always supportive of my quit. He didn't scoff at my struggle like other smokers who say that they're your friends. The flow of wine continued and Charley's health went down hill. A mutual friend who was Chief of Staff at the hospital was finally able to convince him to go in for a check up. The Dr.'s said he needed a little tune up and scheduled him for surgery. I went to see him briefly the night before his operation. He never woke up after the surgery. Died a week later.I never told him that he was the catalyst for my quit. That was my secret until now. He did more good than he knew. He just might have saved my life.Keep the Quit! Aloha