Giving up Smoking is the Easiest Thing in the World

"Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times." ~ Mark Twain

Hoo Boy! Day Care was rough today.
Now to relax with a nice smoke.

I myself have quit smoking so many times over the past thirty some years that it does seem like thousands of times. Turning your back on that tobacco demon is an easy thing to do that is true. However, stopping oneself from turning right back around to that ash tray is the difficult task. Even most regular smokers say they don't really like smoking and that it is too expensive. Tobacco smoke stinks, it infiltrates your clothing and your hair. It even stinks up your car and your home.

Someone told me this (or it was as close to this as I can recall) "Smoking cigarettes is hurting my ability to breath and when I go hiking I get short of breath. I want to quit but I just can't. I have been smoking too long."

I started sneaking around with stolen cigarettes or an occasional cigar when I was around 11 or 12. By the time I was 14 I was a regular smoker and burned up a pack or so a day when I had them - and I usually had them.

When I was a kid it was common for folks to send their kids down to the store to get their tobacco. There was no age limit on the purchase of cigarettes, Prince Albert, cigars and other fine lung poisons so we could buy what we wanted without concern.

Of course since it was a small town we did have to be careful that certain people didn't see us buying our smokes or they may inform our parents. But then again some kids I knew had parents who didn't care if they smoked or chewed and so they did.

Gee Mommy You Sure Love Marlboro!

Some of these old advertisements are hilarious. A baby endorsing cigarettes? Imagine! The miracle of Marlboro!

Somebody help me over here. I am getting too much oxygen/ I know cigarettes are expensive but could you just exhale toward me? Let me move down wind a bit... There! Ahhhh, now that's almost like having a smoke of my own!

Remember folks, in todays economy second hand smoke can be a good thing! I get my nicotine fix and it doesn't cost a thing. This sort of life isn't without its dangers and risks though... oh no... Sitting just downwind of a smoker isn't a good place to be if that smoker has bad gas or even worse body odor. The best is when you can find a whole group of people smoking. Just wonder around in circles breathing in that free second hand smoke.

Note - the fella that wrote this doesn't smoke cigarettes but he is quite sarcastic at times!

Pipe O' Peace and Indian Tobacco Ads

Vintage Prince Albert ads using Native Americans

It may be difficult to read the text on these so I have written it along with each image:


A Jimmy Pipe O' Peace

Prince Albert
the national joy smoke

Has put the "Indian Sign" on all the tongue-broiling, smartweed brands. P.A. can't bite your tongue nor any man's, patented process removes the sting.

Prince Albert
the national joy smoke

The braves who have gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds haven't anything on the wisenheimers of this world who are next to the joys of smoking Price Albert. Get your heavenly smoke now. The bite is taken out by a patented process.

A lot of these ads would be considered offensive these days. Truth is an ad like the next one was always offensive if you happened to be or to care about "Native Americans".

Here is the ad copy from the one on the right:

P.A. is the "Big Smoke Medicine"

Prince Albert has soothed all kinds of pipe grouches for all kinds of men. One of the most interesting cases is that of the American Indians on the reservations. These direct descendants of the original jimmy pipers have taken to Prince Albert the national joy smoke with the same enthusiasm their forefathers took after paleface scalps.

P.A. is the "Big Smoke Medicine" in the lodges of hundreds of thousands of men of al races. You can smoke P.A. without feeling your scalp come up or your tongue blister. The bite is removed by that wonderful patented process that makes P.A. different, distinct, delicious.

Sold everywhere in toppy red bags, 5c; tidy red tins, 10c; pound and half pound humidors.

More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette

Doctors telling folks what kind of smokes to cough on!

I remember a day when folks walked around at Kroger smoking their cigarettes while they shopped. Mostly I remember the cigarette butts that were always scattered throughout the store but perhaps that is because I was closer to them.

I am a bit bored today so I am laughing at doctors who tell their patients not only to smoke but what brand to buy.