For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 22, 2021

Even 6yo Calvin —in one Sunday strip gave smoking a try. Didn’t go too well after one deep inhale until his mother gave him a little lecture (though she gave him one to see he’d learn a lesson when he asked for one).

Well, ever heard of addiction? Even if you realize you don’t like it, you still could get addicted. Ever heard of the drug addiction epidemic nowadays? Be smart and stay away from vices.

Back in the 50’s, my father gave me a cigar when he caught me and said this is what a man smokes, try one.

Shame

Don’t be so smug, Michael. You’ve done some “naughty” things, too. Like climbing a tree to look into Molly’s bedroom window!!

“Aww, this is just like when you would watch me whiz! Like last week! Remember, Liz??”

“Can it, creep!”

I was about 7 or 8 when my father insisted I try smoking one of his cigars. I’d never been caught smoking or trying to smoke and no interest in it, he just thought it was time for me to be a man and take on a man’s habits. I like the smell of a cigar, but don’t enjoy smoking them personally. This was a pattern with my Dad. He gave me my first shot of Gin when I was 6 and told me how to swallow it one gulp. I still drink that way. And I developed the unfortunate habit of needing to finish a bottle of whatever type of alcohol i had open in a single sitting. I’m just glad he wasn’t into any heavier, more addictive drugs since he had no concept of age appropriate behaviour.

Michael calls Liz “Sis”. No more lizard breath?

When I was twelve I snuck a puff of my then brother-in-law’s cigarette. I decided I did not like my lungs being on fire. Since then I have tried a cigar (nice flavor while I was puffing on it, but a) I unpleasantly discovered why my grandfather used holders while smoking cigars; and b) the next day my mouth tasted like I’d been licking an ashtray) and a cigarillo (a “meh” experience).

I had an aunt who smoked. However, even at a very young age I determined that I wouldn’t because I loved singing too much. Later, when I was in high school, I took part in a scientific “experiment”: The teacher chose 3 smokers and 3 non-smokers and had us do some activities. I remember one was holding a thin, metal rod in a hole in a sheet of metal; any contact between the rod and the sheet was counted electronically (think the game “Operation”). The non-smokers were tested. Then the smokers were tested, asked to go out and smoke a cigarette, then tested again. To all of those who say that smoking relaxes you…I witnessed the exact opposite!

I made it through high school and four years in the Marines without smoking. After I got out, I met a girl who smoked and I started. I went seventeen years before I was able to quit.

I took one puff of one ciggy in High School; hated it and never had another. In college, I had one sip of beer; hated it and never drank any alcohol after that.

I did this (but I wasn’t a dummy – a friend and I went to the woods near the house and not right outside the back door!)… luckily the cigarette we stole was a full power Vantage cigarette – HARSH isn’t a heavy-duty enough word for how vile that cigarette was… I do not smoke: not back then after that, and never again. :-P

I think the only cigarette that could have been worse is if we stole an unfiltered Camel or a Lucky Strike… nasty!

As if the Canadian National Health insurance doesn’t have enough to contend with…

Me: puking with green face, “Whad’ya mean you don’t inhale cigars?”

I smoke cigars. Not sorry.

Nasty habit, in every way.

Better late than never. https://www.gocomics.com/shoe/2021/09/22?ct=v&cti=678686

It takes real effort to become a cigarette smoker. They taste incredibly horrible and usually make one sick when first starting off.

My father caught my older brother smoking. He called the milkman, mailman, garbage man, and a police officer and then made my brother smoke a whole Turkish cigar while the others watched. My brother vomited continually til the whole cigar was smoked. With others watching, no one could say my brother didn’t do it willingly. But….he never smoked again. Sometimes tough love is the best deterrent. These days kids can do whatever they want and no one can stop them…except a court judge.

Guess the girls forgot Mom will immediately notice the smell on them from smoking the cigarettes. They will not fool anyone. Nonsmokers are hip to that stench.

My mom smoked from when she was about 15 until her mid 30’s then she quit. In her mid 80’s she had a series of heath problems and went to the doctor. After a series of tests the Oncologist told her she had inoperable cancer from smoking and only a short time to live. My mom said, “But I quit 50 yrs ago!” He reply was, “I’m sorry the damage never goes away.”

Two weeks later I sat by here side as she drowned in her own fluids because her lungs had stopped working (she refused all treatments).Brand this on your forehead, it doesn’t matter what form, Tobacco Kills.

I know that’s it’s only a comic strip. But I find this story arc sort of offensive. I’ve never smoked— tobacco, mj, anything — or even had a thought of it. Both my grandfathers did (also my Dad & Mom, for a while) and died of something apparently unrelated to it. But any more, I have trouble finding an adult who does. All the places I’ve lived It’s considered “bad form”, and increasingly so.

I guess that there are places where it’s just considered a “choice”, albeit one that’s not very desirable. But it seems like there’s an entire industry out there telling us not to even try. I’m not part of that industry; but I do agree with the goal. Just saying.

I gave up smoking in my early 40s. Otherwise, I would probably be dead. I’m 73 now. May Covid avoid you and yours my friends.

I suppose with this theory, we should have all tried all kinds of other poisons to be sure we didn’t like it

The classic cure was to hand them a full pack and insist that they smoke every last one, right then, while you waited. (Or was that rye whiskey. I forget.)

I was lucky enough to learn all about the hazards of smoking without ever lighting up. My lungs don’t deserve that kind of maltreatment.

I started smoking in my sophomore year in Jamaica HS, February 1967, right after I lost my girlfriend Kathleen to leukemia. I quit in autumn 1978, a few weeks before my 27th birthday. When I quit in Philadelphia, PA, cancer sticks were selling at $6.50 per carton. In today’s NYC they’re going for $14 per pack!

Look at Liz’s glasses.I think they sell them in novelty stores.

Michael, the pornography user, concerned about addiction. Will wonders never cease?

55 years after giving up my pipe I still sometimes miss puffing on it. Think it was mixture number76 it sure was good. Dad started smoking in the Navy quit over, 2 days,in the 60’s after the first cancer scare. Grandad died of esophageal cancer after smoking a pipe since childhood. You’d think that would have kept me from smoking.

I quit smoking after I saw my Dad die a slow horrible death from lung cancer.

Mom told me my dad smoked a pipe before I was born… 76 years ago. Mom said that one weekend when he was renovating the house by adding a new bedroom she called him to dinner and he said “right away, as soon as I finish this last wall panel”. When he sat down for dinner she asked “where is your new pipe?” He turned white, paused, and said “I left it on the 2×4 between the studs… behind the wall I just finished up”. She said Dad never smoked again. It’s a good thing pipes go out. Someday I would like to go back to my hometown and find them tearing down that house. Would love to find that pipe in the wall.

I don’t have any sad or tragic stories to tell about why I never picked up the habit. Both of my parents smoked (though not heavily) and, of course, left their used cigarette butts in ashtrays in the living room overnight. It was my job to tidy up the living room, including getting rid of the butts in the ashtrays. I hated the smell, and that’s when I made a vow to never start smoking. Smartest thing I ever did!

Liz should worry less about what her mother hears Michael say and more about what her mother is going to smell.

Time for those girls to find a new friend

Where are they smoking?

Dirty rotten filthy habit. I hope Liz gets grounded for about 100 years….

Doing what your brother says is a bad idea, besides who are you trying to fool with what is o.k.?You are not fooling yourself!

Never tried smoking, but I recognize Liz’s expression from my experience with Silver Creek chewing tobacco.

Michael! This is serious! You need to tell Mom right now!