I used to be a smoker. Smoked for eighteen years and quit cold turkey after hearing rumor of massive price increase of cigarettes. I also began realizing what a disgusting habit it was. As I grew out of my teenage and twenties into an adult I knew I wanted to leave that habit behind. The smell of my cigarette fingers alone was enough. Oh and smoking cigarettes in parking garages on my work breaks, it dawned on me ‘what the fuck am I doing?’

Thirteen years later and totally cigarette free I find myself incredibly bothered by the smell of cigarette smoke especially outdoors. Going out to get a breath of fresh air is nearly nonexistent in the city among the car exhaust and cigarette smoke. I imagined ten years ago that cigarette smoking would be on the decline due to the rising costs and bad image association. Its not cool anymore to smoke. In Texas packs average about $7. Unbelieveably it seems there are more smokers than ever.

Sitting in my larents condo and looking out the window, I saw more than three people drive past with cigs dangling out of their mouths. I walked to the coffee shop (5 min tops) and encounter two outside smokers. I just leased an office space to start my own business and regrettably the office is full of smokers (old school males), one of whom would leave the back door cracked while. smoking allroximately four cigs an hour. So my new office space smells like smoke. I did ask him to please not leave the door cracked and he has since obliged.

Public transportation, specifically traveling by bus you are gonna get smoked out. The smokers love to light up in the line waiting to board the bus without a care or concern. They also love to light up for two or three drags right in front of the bus doors during bus breaks. It is so prevelant (in the so-called poor class) you can’t say anything. Meaning there is no recourse. That is just the way it is. Panhandlers are ofter smokers, using money they pan handle to buy their legal drug of choice. I have seen panhandlers smoker while ‘begging’ for money on city street corners. I no longer give pan handlers money. Not just beacause of cigs, beacause I don’t eant to enable or contribute to the problem of homelessness. Thats another topic.

Having been a former smoker I can appreciate a person’s right to light up in certain scenarios. But when its everywhere and all the time I fimd that unacceptable. Smoking in my opinion should not be allowed in public. I fucking hate walking down a public street behind a smoker. Its annoying to try and avoid their smoke because as soon as I avoid one I am seemingly walking into another’s cloud of toxic fumes. No smoking at airports, public streets/sidewalks, or bus stops, or communal licing spaces are first on the the list.

Restaurants/bars that choose to cater to smokers – no problem. I can avoid those establishments. Private places like cars and homes are fine for smokers. Shared spaces are another story. I am not one for government intrusion, but outlawing smoking in public is where I may make an exception.

Thanks for the opportunity to rant~