Thursday, July 12, 2012

Hand of Death

Hand of Death I started smoking when I was 12 years old. Quit after a bet with myself. If Sweden won the ice-hockey world championship I would give up this bad habit. This was back in 1991 I think. Sweden won the tournament and I quit smoking. Since then I have only smoked twice. The first relapse was the same week as I quit. Out on an island partying with a few friends where everyone smoked I found it impossible not to. Then, a couple of years later I was island hopping in the Greek archipelago with a childhood friend I hadn't seen for 15 years. We visited Santorini, Paros and Ios. And it was on the party island Ios that I smoked my last ever cigarette. We were having drinks at the big square in Chora and I borrowed a cigarette from my friend Peter. It tasted like death. These days I can't stand if anyone smokes near me.

13 comments:

LONDONLULU said...

I love what you did with this photo. (Yes, it's not easy to quit - my sister also started in her teens - but sounds like you've truly kicked the habit!)

Jack said...

It was very smart of you to quit. I never really began. In the sixth grade, a friend and I stole two cigarettes from my mother and smoked them behind the barn. They were so disgusting, I never had another.

brattcat said...

well done, sir. well done, indeed.

janerowena said...

Very well done - my mother smoked and I hated the way she smelt because of it. I told her that I would never marry anyone who smoked. She asked what would happen if I fell in love with a smoker - I replied that I would never go out with one in the first place because smokers smelt so foul. She stopped smoking soon after that!

Clueless in Boston said...

I like you am a reformed smoker and can't abide the smell anymore. I hate getting on an elevator, especially in winter, when someone is coming back after just having a smoke, they smell so awful.

Mo said...

Reformed smokers are generally more anti smoking than most

CaT said...

looks scary like this!
i also cant stand it when someone is smoking near me. i never really botherd, but nowadays it really annoys me...

Lincoln Eye said...

Well done! Did you need to use Nicorette? (it's Swedish right?)

Stefan Jansson said...

Nicorette was probably on the market twenty years ago, but I didn't use it. I used my will power.

FilipBlog said...

Slow death

Greetings,
Filip

Unknown said...

A quite powerful title to go with the photo!

AL said...

I am always thrilled to hear when someone has stopped smoking Steffe. Well done to you. I work in respiratory health and the majority of patients are in my unit because of smoking related diseases. I am like you...I can't stand anyone smoking near me.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Well done Steffe, try not to have another lapse it was definitely a very good thing you did in giving up.