P.S.: Here’s how I knew I had licked it

A brief post script is in order after I posted a blog item detailing how I quit smokint cigarettes cold turkey on Feb. 2, 1980. Here goes.

My father died in a boating accident in September 1980. We were shocked beyond all we could measure. The accident occurred in Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada. Two passengers of the boat died that evening: Dad and the owner of the boat; two others, friends of Dad, survived.

They recovered the remains of the driver of the boat that evening. Dad remained MIA. So, the owner of the company for which Dad worked arranged to fly me to Gibsons to stand by while the Royal Canadian Mounted Police searched for Dad’s remains.

I arrived at the camp where Dad had been staying and we were joined by some loggers who worked on other side of the inlet. We were served some stew that night for dinner.

Then the loggers began pouring the booze. We talked about Dad. One of the loggers paid me a nice compliment by telling me I had “guts” to come there. He also regaled me with his distate for French-Canadians; hey, I knew all about the regional distate between easteern and western Canadians.

They got me sh**-stinking drunk that night. I was wasted beyond belief. I could’ve lit up a smoke that night.,

But I didn’t!

I got through the bender beyond belief. I turned in for the night. I woke the next morning and then returned home to Portland.

I thanked my new friends for taking good care of me.

One more point: The Mounties didn’t find Dad’s remains while I was there. They recovered Dad a few days later.

This much I knew, which was that if I could endure the body-numbing pain of the loss we had suffered without lighting up … I was home free.

One thought on “P.S.: Here’s how I knew I had licked it”

  1. I’ve been a smoker since 1985. After recently being diagnosed with emphysema, I still smoke 1 cigarette each day. That was several years ago, and I am 55 years old. The addiction is very complex. It involves not just the addictive chemical (nicotine,) there are other addictive behaviors such as oral fixation. As a child I always had to have gum in my mouth, despite it being against the rules in school. The ritualistic of smoking played a part in the addiction, as well. For example, getting in my truck required that I light a cigarette when driving. Having a drink meant I needed to smoke as well. The next thing you know, you are addicted. Although I haven’t completely quit, I smoke very little and doubt that will ever change. I’m glad you were able to quit.
    Brett Breckenridge

Comments are closed.