My beloved grandmother (a smoker) died of lung cancer when I was a little girl, and it still didn't stop me from taking up the habit. For so many years, I have been a 'self-loathing smoker'. I love to 'smoke'. I love the action of smoking, the inhale and the exhale. The private moments and the ritual. Though I even somewhat enjoy the smell of 'fresh' smoke (love the smell of Kretek smoke), I hated the lingering stench and the chronic halitosis. I hated the constant reapplications of lotions from overwashing my hands to get the stink off, and lip balm to combat the dryness. I hated having to step outside in the cold and heat because I stopped smoking in my house for the sake of my pets, bonus that it prevented my belongings from being covered in smoke film (notice that I did not say 'nicotine film'). The desperate attempts to hide it from others because I didn't want 'the speech'.
I switched to smoking clove cigarettes (Kretek) a few years back, and I loved them... that is, until Big
tobacco lobbied and succeeded in making them illegal in September of 2009. I was angry, and I didn't want to smoke 'regular' cigarettes again, but I couldn't stop. The patch, the gum, the lozenges- they didn't work because it wasn't 'smoking'.
Then a friend showed me his e-cig. I'm a techie and hacker-type, and I was intrigued with this new gadget. How did it work? I was amazed. Much research ensued.
So I ordered one because I had to try it. I got it early last week, and with the help of the forums, I'm making it
through the learning curve. Already, the difference is amazing! I still get the ritual, I still get to 'smoke'- I get the clouds and the throat hit- but it doesn't leave a stench. Instead of tasting like burning, it tastes like flavor- vanilla, banana, chocolate and coconut (I didn't much opt for the
tobacco flavors, except a Kretek flavor). Trust me, I'm getting nicotine, and I've even overdone it a couple of times. Even so, I'm already feeling better, and more 'clean'. When I got to work Friday, I was dumbfounded when I noticed that my hands didn't stink, and I could smell the light detergent scent of my clean clothes.
I can't wait to see how much better it gets from here!
Good luck in your venture, Chanel!