FOR MAE.....& other possible quitters

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2003
FOR MAE.....& other possible quitters
10
Tue, 09-02-2003 - 7:18pm
BELOW IS A COOL POEM I'VE SAVED FROM A POSTER ON ANOTHER BOARD, WHO I DON'T

THINK WOULD MIND MY SHARING. BET YOU CAN RELATE, {{{Mae}}}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twas the night before quitting, when all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The cigarettes were tossed in the trash can with care,

In hopes that relief soon would be there.

The matches, the lighters, the ashtrays were gone,

The quitmeter installed -- it wouldn't be long.

A bottle of Zyban and my arm tightly patched,

The door to tobacco seemed securely latched.

When inside my mind there arose such a clatter

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon o'er the lamppost across the street,

Gave luster of mid-day to the curbside fleet.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear

But a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of beer.

And -- a little old ogre, so smelly and quick

I knew in a moment it must be that Nic.

More rapid than eagles the cravings they came

As he whistled and shouted and called my name.

"You know that you want me, you silly old goat!"

He tortured me through his yellow toothed throat.

"Come down here and light one 'cause no one will know

You'll feel so much better now say it ain't so!"

And then, in an instant, I saw myself weak

As I threw on my robe and began to seek

A way to the cigarettes without waking Ma

Hoping to break an unbreakable law.

I forgot the board, I forgot all those posts,

I didn't drink water, I thought of the ghosts

Of quits past and present and times I had failed

Had I thought ODAT I could have just bailed.

Nic was dressed as a friend all sweetness and light

And he knew how to seduce me that awful night.

A Marlboro Light he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke encircled his head like a wreath.

He was gaunt and withered, a sorry old elf,

But I ignored those red flags, in spite of myself

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had something to dread.

He spoke no more words, but went straight to his work

Putting matches and cigarettes in my hands, the jerk!

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

He gave me a wink and redoubled my woes.

He climbed in a hearse giving his keys a small shake

Thinking I'd not realize this would be such a mistake!

I heard him exclaim, e're he drove out of sight

"Just smoke one, it can't hurt you! You'll get through the night!"

And then something snapped inside of my brain,

And I yelled "I ain't climbing back on your train!"

I shouted and cursed and ranted and raved,

Then smiled and crushed his cigs -- and waved.

You see, Old Nic, I've got greater resolve

Your tobacco will NOT my problems solve

So tempt me tonight and tomorrow too,

But know that this one little smoker is through!

No more butts, no more smoke, no more being a slave

No more coffin nails for an early grave.

I'm free, free at last, and I feel so light,

So happy quitting to all, and to all a good night!


Nick



* Stel *

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Tue, 09-02-2003 - 7:42pm
Reads like a quitter's "Paradise Lost"! Thanks, Stel. I've been REAL tempted today!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 09-02-2003 - 7:58pm


Awww Stel ..

What a great share!

I really like it ..

So glad you kept it too, whew!

Thanks for posting it here .. Sure to be enjoyed by many :)

~Hugs~

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 09-02-2003 - 10:23pm


Ahhh I remember him and that great poem. Hope he's still smober. :)

~Golly

Avatar for iwantpeace
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 09-03-2003 - 12:43pm
Oh Thanks Stel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Loved it!!!!! and Needed it (;)

The dsl has been down ...and I went home early yesterday cuz I felt EXHAUSTED!!! The stupid patch fell off in one of the stalls...didn't even realize it. I Need to find something to keep it on when it's HOT...maybe some duct tape (;) as my roommate suggested (;)

~~~ Mae~~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2003
Wed, 09-03-2003 - 12:54pm
Oh, Mae....glad to hear from you, and glad you like the poem!!

Listen, get you some paper tape or cloth tape & use it over the patch. It helps when you sweat and the sticky comes off the patch. I promise they both work, and won't irritate your skin any worse than the patch does. And also, I found the clear seem to stay on

better for me, for whatever reason.

One good thing, thinking optimistically here, is that I also found that the smaller

the patch....when you're ready to step down.....the easier they stay on. Again, I

have no idea why, but that is just my personal experience.

Glad you made it thru Day 1...ODAT, girl!

* Stel *

Avatar for iwantpeace
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 09-03-2003 - 3:30pm
Thanks Stel!! Hey...question for ya...I was talking to a friend and she said it takes 30 days to REALLY break the habit...Should I stay on the step 1 for 30 days...just to be sure???
~~~ Mae~~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2003
Wed, 09-03-2003 - 3:49pm
Should I stay on the step 1 for 30 days...just to be sure???

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mae, with all I have learned over these past 9 months, you have to do what feels

*right* for you. I can't remember what the package recommends...but IF you feel

more comfortable on the 21 mg., and are *nervous* about stepping down....then by

all means, do Step 1 for 30 days. It WILL NOT hurt you!! But I have *seen* on

other boards & even folks sifting in & out of *our* boards, that some people can do

the Step 1 for 3 weeks, then Step 2 for 2 weeks, then get off totally.

So....my advice, in a nutshell...is just to take it "one day at a time" for now.

If you buy too many 21 mgs, you can always cut them....hey, don't laugh, I do:)

Don't worry...we'll be here for ya Just make it thru Day 2 without that

patch sweatin' off this evening:)

xoxo stel


* Stel *

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-03-2003 - 5:53pm
>>I Need to find something to keep it on when it's HOT...maybe some duct tape (;) as my roommate suggested

**Whatever it takes .. yes..

Duct tape, glue

Just no smoking for right now :)

~Hugs~

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-03-2003 - 5:54pm
>>Should I stay on the step 1 for 30 days...just to be sure

**Hey Mae ..

How about following the directions to a *T*

Stay on it as long as it suggests then step down perhaps when it says ..

JMHO of course

~Hugs~

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 09-03-2003 - 5:57pm
HEY!! I sent YOU that!! Oh so long ago!!LOL!! Groover

"Mel on Wheels"