No Smoking

I hate cigarettes. I always have. If there’s even a whiff of smoke in the air, I can smell it. And while I certainly have my share of bad habits, smoking is not one of them. I thank my grandpa for that.

Coffee and Cigarettes

My grandfather was a heavy smoker. I loved going over to visit him and my grandma, but even at a young age, I remember being repulsed by the cigarette smoke. Though my grandparents got me hooked on coffee, I never took to cigarettes. Good thing, too, since the tide has turned against them.

Smoking Sections

When I was a kid, every restaurant had a smoking section and a non-smoking section. Between the two lay a magical line that repelled cigarette smoke. Like everything magical, it wasn’t real. The smoke went all over the place. As I got older, restaurants started banning smoking altogether. Then municipalities got in the act. There are still plenty of places that still allow lighting up, but living in the city, I can avow that most restaurants and bars are now smoke free. It’s nice to be able to enjoy the taste of my food or beer without the essence of nicotine. It’s even nice to spend a night out drinking and not have to throw all my clothes in the laundry as soon as I get home.

Smoking is So Passé

I still get bombarded with smoke on coffee shop patios, casino floors, and suburban bars, but for the most part, cigarette smoke is becoming easier and easier to avoid. Nowadays when I see someone light up, my first thought is “Really?” Smoking seems so antiquated. So 20th century. Maybe it’s because of my grandpa, but I’ll allow associate smoking with old people. No matter what your actual age is, you look ridiculous. Cut it out.