Posted by leeran on April 21, 2003, at 13:10:48
In reply to Smoking » leeran, posted by whiterabbit on April 21, 2003, at 12:11:01
My mother is a four-pack a day smoker. That said I am very sensitive to the needs of smokers and the prejudice that exists against smokers. On the other hand, I've lived my life trying to be the exact opposite of my mother, so I always have to anally remind myself of the few ways that I'm NOT like her.
All that to say that I never like to offend smokers (because I live in fear of offending my mother - LOL!).
Living in California has made me even more aware of the laws/rules about smoking. The other day we went to a local mall and right outside the entrance there was a bench (on the sidewalk, mind you) and it said "This is a NON-SMOKING bench."
Even as a non-smoker I thought that was the most ridiculous thing I had ever seen. Not only that, the entrance to the mall was flanked by TWO of these benches.
I knew right then and there that I would never convince my parents to move out here (and that may be a good thing, I teeter on that one).
A smoking friend of mine in the Midwest had this to say about California:
"It's okay, but the only problem is you have to step outside to Nevada to have a smoke."
Changing subjects abruptly:
Thank you for your insight on the "aging" subject. I was reminded of a scene in that movie with Robin Williams and Annabella Sciorra, "What Dreams May Come," when she is hospitalized after a suicide attempt. She is such a beautiful actress and they did such a realistic job of making her look exactly like you described in your post. That scene has always stayed with me.
One thing this board (or these boards) has taught me (just hit me this morning) is that I may need therapy. Okay, I've always known I "need" therapy but I have always thought I could work it all out on my own. It's like deciding to buy a $2,000 sofa when the roof is leaking. The roof is more important but the sofa is more appealing. And of course, if the roof is leaking the sofa is ruined with the first rain.
Sofas are a good metaphor for my life. A friend of mine says I've had more sofas, refrigerators and husbands than most people have in three lifetimes.
WhiteRabbit, I'll close with an old expression of my grandmother's (God rest her soul): "Let's sit down and smoke and count our money."
poster:leeran
thread:220747
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030421/msgs/221179.html