Back in 1988, I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ER. While there, I got ti lie on a gurney for maybe tyhree hours. The only thing to look at was the lightboard with the x-rays on it. They were of my lungs which did not look good. They looked at lot like my mother's, who died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (new name for congestive heart failure). Well, it's been over 20 years now. My lungs never returned to "normal," but they haven't gotten worse either, and my heart is not perfect, but it's not enlarged from trying to pump blood into lungs that just don't transpire properly.

So, my recomendation is that you quit now, not 40 packs from now. Just make up your mind that YOU DO NOT SMOKE! None of this "trying to quit," "cutting back," "gee, it's hard," "well, maybe just one" bullshit. You need to force youself into a non-smoker.

And you're right: Your body, your hair, your clothes and everything else won't stink anymore. And your senses of smell and taste will surprise you. People think that cigarettes just naturally go with drinking, but you won't believe how good a bottle of beer will taste without the filthy habit.

And your friends will be happy, and your loved ones relieved. Right now they think: Christ, he'll never give 'em up. Surprise them.

Don't be surprised if you find that you no longer like the smell of cigs. I hate them now, though pipe and cigar tobaccos smell pretty good. Try to be polite as you begin to tell others that you can't stand the smell of their smokes (or of them, for that matter).

Best of luck, Schmutzie, and remember: This is a fight for your life and nothing less.