T O B A C C O (I'm of the Unhooked Generation Revisited)

tobacco [tuh-bak-oh]
noun
plural tobaccos, tobaccoes

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Nicotiana, of the nightshade family, especially one of those species, as N. tabacum, whose leaves are prepared for smoking or chewing or as snuff.
   
   
2. the prepared leaves, as used in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.
   
   
3. any product or products made from such leaves.

When last I looked, it was still legal in the 50 United States.

I can count the number of people I know who have the addiction. One is at work, another was a grad student in my cohort way back when, and a third is a cosmetologist I know in the Bay Area. I once asked the latter-most if he had ever tried quitting. He responded with a resounding, "No!" He's 63.

I used to be head-over-heels with a pothead who also liked to drink beer, or, more accurately, malt liquor. But when I would light up a cigarette he would get all ugly in my face with a high-and-mighty, holier-than-thou attitude on how disgusting the smell was. I was never a huge fan of the smell of weed. And I reminded him more than once that at least tobacco was legal and weed was not (at the time).

Poor thing once got picked up for toking a joint in public. He worked for the Board of Education and had an administrative day. He finished his work early and went to the park to feed the squirrels. It was February on the east coast. He pulled out peanuts and then pulled out some rolled bud. What he wasn't prepared for was the police presence in the park (thanks to the then mayor, Rudy Giuliani). He was swept up and hauled to the hoosegow. And they even threatened to tell his school's principal. Luckily for him, the principal was an ally.

I had smoking in my life for quite a long while... probably over 20 years. And the last time that I had quit -- which remains in the for good status -- was 24 years ago. My vital signs are within normal limits (although my oxygen saturation ranges between 95% - 97%. Never quite sure why it's never gotten back to 100%.

Today I read ways to increase saturation: grow plants, breathe fresh air, don't smoke...