If you smoke or used to smoke, why did you start smoking?

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

7. For me, I wanted to do something kind of bad

I was getting some dental work done, once a week, over a period of about 8 weeks. I was this somewhat perfect kid, 15 years old, good grades, piano recitals, perfect pitch singing, obedient kid.

Every week I’d ride the bus after school to my dentist appointment. My dentist was on the 4th floor, but on the third floor was a room of vending machines, including a cigarette vending machine. I’d buy a pack, hey, it even came with matches, 50 cents. After the dentist, I’d walk around, downtown, smoking. Being bad. Before I’d get back on the bus, I’d give the rest of the pack away, to one of the beggars in Hemming Park.

Sigh. I foolishly believed I controlled it and that once my dental trips were completed, that would be that. I’m 65, I quit when I was 54.