Here in the U.S. (and Canada too, no doubt), the news media consistently reports that cigarette smoking is steadily declining.
However, when I was in college a couple of years ago--and in my travels
today--I can't help but notice a rather disconcerting trend: most of
the young, attractive women I see smoke. And by that, I don't mean these silly shits that, in a bar, get really drunk and start acting like someone else...I mean, addicted women. Among college-aged young
adults, I don't find this all that surprising (in spite of the kids' supposed
intelligence), if only for the fact that it was in our time a real forbidden fruit; however, among the thirty-something, educated professionals,
I'm rather taken aback.
I don't have a grudge against smoking. I don't particularly like being
around it, but I don't think less of someone's character if they're
addicted to lighting one every thirty minutes. (Well, except for the
case of Liv Tyler...I soooooo thought her lips would be super extra-kissable
if she'd quit. They're only extra-kissable now
Yet...I can't help but to think, "Jeez. That girl is gorgeous now, but
in ten years, that amount of smoking will quickly catch up with her.
Does she not realize this? In thirty years, at BEST, it'll limit her mobility from the lack of aerobic fitness, making her bones more brittle; and at
worst, she'll have uncurable cancer." I think the answer is, yes, the smarter girls understand that but don't give it any serious thought. Most people have a severe aversion to thinking about anything long-term, especially where it concerns health.
I've chewed tobacco on occassion, so I know nicotine gives an interesting
"high": a definite stimulant, but when I was used to chewing (i.e.,
the room wouldn't spin around), the stimulation was somewhat offset
with a calmative effect. Thus, it was a kind of simultaneous upper AND
downer. It still tasted bad.
Is that high enough to perpetuate a habit? For me, no. But beyond
the addiction aspect, I'm still stunned to find that most cute, intelligent
girls I meet are the ones huddled out in the doorways of buildings
on smoke breaks. It's not that they're simply the ones that catch
my attention, either. I do notice the uglier girls, mostly because my
standards have dropped dramatically in the past two years, LOL.
Is it a weight-loss thing, or what? I imagine there are multiple causes,
of course...still, ugh. I can't contain my surprise! The price of those
damn things is insane...figure $30.00 a week just for a year, and you
come up with over $1500 US dollars!
