I don't smoke, never have, never even tried one. I was never even tempted to, which was fortunate, as I was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 28. On the other hand, I would never harrass a smoker about his/her habit. My mother-in-law apparently had an occasional cigarette when her husband was alive, but after his death took up the habit in earnest. She was a wonderful person, who showed me without even trying that, contrary to the stereotypic mother-in-law, it is possible to be popular with your son- or daughter-in-law simply by staying out of your adult children's business. I would never have insulted her by complaining about her habit. She died at the age of 83 from thymus cancer, which was almost certainly a result of her smoking.
Two of my children, for reasons entirely unrelated, took up smoking for a time. My oldest son picked it up from his girlfriend. Fortunately, a later girlfriend gave him an ultimatum -- it was her or the cigarettes. He chose her. My military daughter took it up because most of the other Marines in her unit smoked, but after she married (a non-smoker) she quit, fortunately.
I regard smoking as a bad habit and would never take it up, but I also know that once it is established, it is very, very hard to quit. Anyway, I figure an adult has a right to decide for him/herself whether or not to take the risk. Anyone who reads the newspaper, listens to radio or watches TV knows that it isn't good for him. My friends and acquaintances don't need me to inform them of the fact, and I prefer their friendship to making myself unpopular with them by rubbing it in.
Nan
