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Post by jeepguy on Dec 29, 2014 22:38:36 GMT -5
Well, I'm here for my annual check-in / check-up. I clicked into the old quintet.com site and found gayquitters had moved to a new home. This is a very nice, spacious, pleasing environment. One of you must be an interior designer!!! 
BTW - The security gate is quite impressive. I had to manufacture a key!
Anyway, for those of you who may know me from the other site, my real name is Gary, and I went by offroadguy.
On New Years Day, I will celebrate 11 years of being smokeless. I hope this gives someone who is struggling with quitting some encouragement and affirmation that it is possible to kick cigs in the ass for good.
So, my quit continues to go well.
I had a bitter reminder just the other day that the demon can lurk around every corner, and we are never truly safe! At a party a week or so ago, I ran into an old friend whom I hadn't seen in over 10 years. She didn't know that I had quit and asked me if I wanted to go out for a smoke. I told her I had quit, but it would be fun to go out and join her for some conversation while she smoked her cig. She told me that she had quit for 7 years and then got to hanging around some old friends who still smoke and started smoking again. That was 3 years ago. So, now she's back to smoking and wishing like hell that she had never started again. This just proves an axiom that was helpful to me when I was in the earlier stage of quitting - NOPE - Not One Puff Ever! It still applies to me, 11 year down the road from my first day without a smoke. As I stood out there in the cold visiting with my friend, it struck me that I was really glad I quit, and I had no desire to join her in a smoke, as we had done so many years ago.
I t saddened me that one of my very favorite old rock and roll / blues singer buddies, Joe Cocker, passed away a few days before Christmas from lung cancer. Joe was a heavy smoker, and at age 70, it finally caught up with him. I'm only 4 years younger than he is! I'm so glad I quit. I know quitting will not positively prevent me from getting lung cancer, but it greatly reduces the chances of that happening, the longer I stay quit.
So, I want to wish all of you happy quits, happy New Year, and all the best. Also, I see my friend Joe isn't around but has checked in, so Gene, give him a "hi" and a hug from me! Thanks!
Gary
PS - Now that you have this beautiful new home, maybe I'll come see you more often! Where's the pool?  |
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Post by Genecanuck on Dec 30, 2014 7:04:56 GMT -5
Gary, I am glad that you found us. Contratulations on an amazing quit. Yes, we can never take our quits for granted. I know that I have had severl set backs because I ignored the rule that I can't have just one!!! We need someone to help us manage a pool / anniversary thread. Let me know if you are interesed in being our pool boy!!! Thanks for dropping by! Gene |
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Post by timethrift on Dec 30, 2014 14:40:03 GMT -5
Gary,
Congratulations on your 11 year Quit. It is at this stage we can lean on our quits for support, a reminder of the time when we wanted to be quit, but for whatever reason, did'nt. Freedom is sweet, I wish you continued success in whatever life brings you, Congratulations!
Bertram
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2015 15:28:57 GMT -5
Nice post, Gary. I just quit, going on 7 months, first quit ever and feeling relatively strong.... You don't wanna see me on a bad day, however! Anyway, just wanted to let you know I enjoyed hearing from you and hope you'll drop by now and again.
I quit at 55 (had a birthday in November) so if my math is right, which is highly questionable, we quit at the same age. I was a very heavy smoker with 2-3 packs inhaled each and every day for many, many years. I too understand that much damage has been done to my lungs but in truth, health was not my main reason for quitting. Money was my primary motivator and it has worked well for me. Better health is a nice perk though.
And, to be honest, I never thought I would be able to stop smoking, I was very hardcore. But then I got a gift in the disguise of an emergency appendectomy that had me held prisoner at the regional medical center for two and a half days. When I awoke from the anesthesia on day one, I realized I would not be able to smoke until I got sprung from the joint and decided to make the best of it. Knowing myself, I knew that BEING UNABLE TO SMOKE due to incarceration was about the only opportunity I would have to get a jump start on a quit.
So I rang for the nurses, told them my plan and had them pose for pictures, shredding my full pack of smokes that I had brought with me when to the ER. (-I'll try to post the pics here but not sure I'll be able to figure it out.) I knew that I was in a morphine-induced state of courageous optimism but I thought what the hell, it's now or never. And here I am, smoke-free 189 days, 4 hours, 18 minutes and 1 second later.
Not bad!
Anyway, thanks for your post and come by anytime. All my best,
-John
....Nope, couldn't figure out how to add pictures, dang!
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Post by jeepguy on Jan 1, 2015 16:08:21 GMT -5
Hi Gene - Nice to see you again! It would be tempting to take you up on your offer for the pool boy job in the anniversaries dept. I probably would do a rotten job, though, because I'm not sure I could commit enough time to doing it right now. Thanks, anyway! I'll try to drop by more often. Glad you are still around. An old-timer, for sure! Be well!
Bertram - Another old timer! Wow! Thanks for the good thoughts. Best to you, too.
John - Great story! Sounds like you did a nice job of making lemonade out of lemons to get a good start on your quit. I think I was actually 56 when I quit, but I smoked a lot for about 35 years prior to quitting. Several failed quits, but one finally stuck. Lots to be said for not giving up on quitting. Keep it going strong!
Gary |
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