Smokin’

Yes, the kind you get from a box, and that damages your lungs and teeth and fingers and clothes..

 

It’s the kind I’ve been doing for many years, and I’m not likely to stop anytime soon.

Why not? Well, I like smoking. Sure it causes more damage than not, but it’s still one of life’s little pleasures – for me at any rate.

I’m not harming anybody but myself in doing it, I can do it at home, keeps me occupied, makes for a social circle anywhere smokers have been banished to the outer reaches of officedom…

Not what this post is about though.

The non-smokers won’t know what I’m talking about, the stopped smokers will tell me to stop and the smokers may or may not agree with me. It is, however, my opinion, and it is going to be aired.

I my 20 odd years of smoking I’ve learned a few things. I try and have a back up lighter with me everywhere I go. Even a back up pack of smokes. Things happen all the time. Lighters empty, packs get lost, stolen. And instead of rushing around trying to find either a smoke or a lighter, have spares and back ups.

I do not lend out my lighter. Especially not the one I’m using now – it’s only a bic, but the cover I got from Istanbul, and it’s precious to me, so I’m not planning on letting it go out of my sight. To that end I have a box of matches – if you’re desperate enough for a light, matches will do just fine. If you’re going to pull up your nose at using matches, you clearly don’t want to smoke badly enough. I’ve lost too many lighters in my lifetime as a smoker, and then I was the one being left high and dry because some ass took my lighter. So, when I say I don’t lend out my lighter, it’s about more than just being anal. It’s about the hard taskmaster of experience and having been burnt a few times.

If I run out of smokes, and I have money to go and buy more, I’ll ask somebody for a smoke. If I don’t have money though, I’d really rather suffer through withdrawal than to ask. Pride at it’s worst, I know. But it’s more than that. The few days before payday is always the worst for most people. When everything is running low, smokes too. And you don’t always have money to replenish the stocks. I try and make sure I have enough smokes to last me the whole month. And I know it’s difficult for everybody. But hey. You’re not the only one that’s only getting paid tomorrow. I’m in the same boat as you. Only difference is, I will rather smoke a bloody pipe than to bum a smoke!

Guys on the side of the road selling all kinds of weird and wonderful crap. Constantly asking me for a smoke. I never give. You can’t buy, you don’t smoke. It’s as easy as that. And why should I give you a smoke? Because I feel sorry for you? I don’t actually. And I’ve been in that same boat believe you me! And I would really rather make another plan than to have to ask for smokes from all and sundry.

This mini-rant was brought about by somebody wanting to borrow my lighter today. I told her, no, I don’t actually lend out my lighter, but that I have matches for just such an occasion. She got her g string in a knot and did not go for the smoke. Without really bothering to figure out why I did what I did. Not because she was going to eat the lighter or damaging it on purpose or losing it on purpose – I’d really rather not take that chance. If I lose it, it’s my fault. If somebody else lose it, it will be theirs, but they don’t really care about the whole deal – it’s only a lighter after all.

Since I’m usually prepared for most eventualities, why can’t they be too?

And yes, I realise how utterly anal I sound. It’s just one of those things I’m afraid.

And thank heavens!! Friday is almost done!!!