I realized while walking in to work and watching a couple guys brace themselves against the snow that I don't really miss smoking. Sure, there are times when I think I'd really like a cigarette but largely I don't miss it at all. Of all the things that I don't miss braving the cold is very low on that list.

The worst were the throat infections. This is, in fact, what I thought about as I was walking in to work. I didn't realize that smoking and the throat infections were related because I started smoking so young. I didn't have much of a frame of reference, many solid, continuous memories of a time when I didn't smoke. I just assumed that the two throat infections I would get a year were just a normal part of me. Something that happened. Other people might get dry skin. I got throat infections, strep throat to be exact.

I'd feel it start and I'd already know the progression. Acetaminophen to get me through the night, sleep, more acetaminophen to get through the school/work day, off to the doctor/clinic by the end of the day feeling like garbage. Amoxicillin prescription. In a day or two I'd be tasting penicillin tinged pus as it drained in to my stomach. Lovely visual, I know. I associated it with winter, not smoking.

In my early 20s I had a particularly bad throat infection. I was sleeping about 18 hours a day. There was a four inch sweat ring in the shape of my body around me in bed. My girlfriend at the time woke me up at one point to give me some water and gravol, the draining pus in my empty stomach ensured I puked quite a bit. She made a mention of my fever, 103 for those wondering, and I quipped back, "That's a spicy meatball!" and passed out. I puked up the gravol a short time later. I have no recollection of any of this of course. She decided at that point it might be prudent to get me some medical attention.

I quit smoking just shy of eight years ago. You know what I haven't had once since I quit?

david shute - Jan 30, 2010 at 10:55 PM