Re[4]: [at-l] Quit-smoking hike in Georgia

[infpeace@yahoo.com (Nina Baxley)]

We make our own choices. I agree that there are greedy
corporations out there, but no one put a gun to
anyone's head and made them smoke.

I have seen several of my family members die of
smoking-related causes. None of them died a painless
death, but were in great pain during the preceding
months. My uncle only had three quarters of a lung
left during his last few weeks, and each breath was a
struggle.

When I was 14 or whenever, I chose not to smoke
because I saw at a young age the suffering that a
lifetime of smoking can cause. I don't condemn other
people who smoke (like everyone here probably, I've
had--and still have--my own addictions so I know how
hard it is to quit things), though I must say I'm
thrilled that David and others have decided to quit
and become healthier.

I don't know how to make this trail related, but it's
something I've been wanting to post ever since the
first quit-smoking hike post. When Kahley asked what
made you quit smoking, I just think of the things that
made me never want to start--watching people I love
suffer and die too young due to smoking-related
cancers.

OK, to make this trail related ... hmmm ... Labor Day
weekend I will be hiking Hump Mtn and Bradley Gap--the
area that was so cold (below 0) and windy (40 mph
winds?) back in November that people, including me,
were turning back. I've seen pictures of those areas
and they're supposed to be really beautiful when
visibility is more than 10-15 feet. Hopefully we'll
get some good weather!

Nina
"Waterfall"
ME-GA 2000

=====
Visit the Louisiana Hiking Club at http://www.geocities.com/louisianahikingclub
Visit my ME-GA 2000 thru-hike updates at http://www.gorp.com/gorp/activity/hiking/thruhike/nina/ninab_archive.htm.

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