great post n2k thanks a lot happy new year to you too lynnexx [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/24/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 70 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,051 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �280 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 4

That was beautiful. I could almost feel the emotion and the freedom, the joy and the sadness. Congratulations on the finaly come to be real 500 days. You ARE the N2K. Denise [IMG]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p300/DeeKaySss/Nicodemon.gif[/IMG]

N2K - Thank you so much for this post. I can remember after ending a difficult relationship, how painful it was every time I saw that person. Eventually, I remember seeing him and wondering why it was so hard for me to leave and eventually feeling very little at all. You helped me to put the feelings that I have about smoking into perspective. Having said that, I want you to know how much your post touched me. You truly love your father unconditionally and he is so lucky to have you. Thank you. Windy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 113 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,277 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $565 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 11 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22

Oh Shellye!!! What a powerful post!!! I felt your heartache all the way here in Missouri! I'm so sorry for you and your dad. Yes, I often wonder the same thing - why won't they at least TRY and then experience this freedom! I hope that your dad does quit one day, but like all of us, we had to do it in our own time. Congrats again on 500 days! Glad to hear you had a good time in Austin. Congrats my friend! Crave the Quit! Pam [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/28/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 431 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 10,795 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1780.03 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 30 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 40 [B]Seconds:[/B] 50

That was a wonderful post - Got a laugh from this: [quote] you spot your ex across the room. He/she looks like a crap and you wonder what you ever saw in him in the first place [/quote] And I feel the same about this (regarding my mom): [quote] I love without understanding. If only he could put his eye on the water tower this year. If only he could experience seeing others smoke and feeling nothing but FREEDOM. If only he knew what I now know. [/quote] You're such an insightful quitter/person. Thanks N2K! Hugs CobenFan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 283 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,668 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $990.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 26 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 56

as always, very eloquently put. Thanks for sharing. Here's to Living this year. keep fightin' the good fight - fish [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/21/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 377 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 11,333 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1885 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 50 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 54

I brought in the New Year in the beautiful (somewhat smoke free) city of Austin. They block off the downtown streets and celebrate in art and song. It�s the live music capitol of the world and the celebration called �First Night� included performers repelling halfway down the side of the Radisson Hotel skyscraper and performing an amazingly choreographed dance routine to lights and music. In another part of town you could line up to be apart of the �I of Texas.� You look into a lens and a powerful projector puts the live picture of your eye up on the �big screen.� The BIG SCREEN at this event happens to be the round upper portion of the cities huge water tower. It�s usually a white oval tower but on this night it�s a twenty-story pedestal with your gigantic eyeball on the very top looking down on all the world! Most all the indoor venues, restaurants, clubs, etc. are smoke free in Austin. I saw some folks smoking outdoors but they seemed to be in the minority. Unlike in days past it didn�t bother me to be near them. If you are just a few months quit you might relate to this: There used to be a time when I would go out dancing and catch myself fixated on someone smoking. I didn�t want one. Yet I would sort of involuntarily stare at them and catch myself �looking too long� and then quickly look away thinking, �I�m not craving. Why am I staring?� I always found that behavior a little odd. I finally chalked it up to being exactly like those times you run into an old flame. You know, you haven�t seen him (or her) in a longtime and suddenly you spot your ex across the room. He/she looks like a crap and you wonder what you ever saw in him in the first place. For a few minutes you can�t take your eyes off him just trying to soak in the reality of what stands in front of you.~LOL That�s how I felt. This time around I felt nothing. Even later into the evening when I was feeling tipsy and giggly it just wasn�t there. I didn�t even realize the difference until we were driving home today. The longer I stay quit the better I feel physically and emotionally. If only I could bottle this feeling and give samples to those who think they can�t quit. When I returned home my mother me told that dad had a bad coughing spell while I was

Wow. All I can say is...Wow. mc [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/31/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 489 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,339 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1956 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 48 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 17

N2K, We know the dad scene a little too well and that cough as well. I won't ever forget being woken up by dad's coughs and am glad not to hear them anymore except on occassion. We cannot save anyone but ourselves. You know, I still get that "just one" junkie thought from time to time. It is stories like this that snap me back into reality. Our dads hide from reality and live the nicodemon lie. You and I choose a life of freedom. We know that smoking will kill them. All we can do is enjoy them for the time we have them and be grateful that we were able to break free. Best wishes for an awesome 2007 my friend. It is going to be another good year of freedom. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/1/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 550 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 11,016 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1925 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 49 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 44

Wonderful post Shel....I'm totally speechless....Here's to wishing you and your family all the best for 2007....ohhhhh and CONGRATULATIONS ON 500 DAYS OF FREEDOM....YOU ROCK GIRLFRIEND !!!!!! [IMG]http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/6451/sweetpea8bk.jpg[/IMG] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/29/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 491 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,901 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2204.59 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 63 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 31 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43