Friday, October 12, 2012

I Couldn't Stop Chatting, Even If It Was Bad For Me, So Why Would I Complain About Smokers Who Can't Quit?

Not everyone who knows me know that I am the least allergic person (verified by the allergy clinic in Seattle) ever seen.  So why was I sent to the Allergy Clinic?  Because I'm allergic to cigarette smoke.  I actually had to leave a federal government job because at the same time that they were regulating the smoking in everyone else's workplace, they were eliminating all non-smoking workplaces from the Federal Building in Seattle, because the smokers were complaining that their area was way too smoky without some non-smokers.  (I promise that I am not making this up.)  But this is not a problem for me these days, because 99% of American smokers are incredibly polite, and many never even smoke in their own homes.  (Even Europe has become more careful about the health of non-smokers - I have no problem when traveling these days.)  But last Friday night at a wonderful outdoor charity event for Southwest Airlines, I ran into the other 1%.  And it was a work affair, so I had to be polite, when one of my husband's customers sat down at our table and smoked while we were eating?  Who does that?  There were 100's of people there, and we just happened to get one of the only 3 people who were smoking attach himself to us.  Then there was the woman who lit up in a stall of the (only) tiny bathroom.  The 3rd one was a woman who brought a baby with her.  My point, and I do have one, is that I have been having trouble with my sinuses brought on by extreme exposure to smoke, and it is so tiring!  Every night, when I sit down to write a little and read other people's stuff, I find myself falling asleep.  But when my sweet daughter notices that I have not updated in a week, I guess I'd better do something about it.  Like writing in the afternoon?  It just seems wrong to waste the daylight.  

7 comments:

  1. Not sure I follow your logic, Beryl. I bet you would shut up in the presence of others if it hurt them to hear you. As a former smoker (we're the worst kind of righteous, I know!) I can't actually believe someone was so rude to smoke while you were eating. And it was someone like you, allergic to smoke, who brought it to my attention initially just how dependent I was. This was my first step on the road to stopping.

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  2. Hi Shelley - I would think it would be more difficult for an Oklahoman to quit smoking, since such a large percentage of Oklahomans do smoke. (But, like I said, they are so very polite about it. That rude smoker was from New England, transferred to Texas.) I'm proud of you!

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  3. I am allergic to cigarette smoke too, Beryl. Our workplaces used to be full of smoke, but thankfully that is now banned. I don't get it re the Federal Building - weird logic! Smoking while people are eating is beyond rude. Hope your sinus trouble has settled. Enjoy the weekend.

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  4. Hi Patricia - My children don't understand how hard it used to be having a cigarette smoke allergy. You couldn't ever go to a bar and most restaurants were impossible. And finding a workplace without smoke was a huge task. They don't understand why I feel sorry for smokers these days - they don't get a break anywhere. And I suspect that the cigarettes being manufactured today are even more addictive than they used to be.















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  5. How unlucky you were to be stuck with the smokers. Hoping your allergies have improved by now. Maybe you should just start traveling with a mask in your handbag and if anyone is again ever so rude, just pull it out and pop it on. Perhaps they would get the message! (You're probably too nice to do that, though!)

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  6. How unlucky you were to be stuck with the smokers. Hoping your allergies have improved by now. Maybe you should just start traveling with a mask in your handbag and if anyone is again ever so rude, just pull it out and pop it on. Perhaps they would get the message! (You're probably too nice to do that, though!)

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  7. Hi Sanda - If it hadn't been connected to John's business, I could have simply wandered away. Your mask idea is pretty cute, though!

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