Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Smoking in France



Yep, me in the picture.....

First, i would like to Thank you all if you are participation in French Obsession, Your French links rock and i really enjoyed reading and seeing all of them. Some made me teary a little bit :) We still have until Saturday for more links....
Yep, i miss Paris and France...




I was thinking about "Smoking in France".
I started remembering....In school...smoking was surely a social thing....They would gather around each other and smoke.
I never smoked.....I am not the type who does something because everybody does....I have always been the observation type...the shy type.


Tell you also a little bit of my story.....Grand-pa survived World War II....The Nazis put him in Jail because he was too outspoken about politics....until The American "liberation". He stayed in Jail for 2 years. Came out with no more hair and no more teeths... This is not what got him.....He died very young of Cigarette related lung cancer. My mother and her younger sister had to stop school and go to work to provide for the family....Misery....So Hell no i am not a smoker.....My Dad is. The weird thing is....He is always coughing.....




I am lucky here in Utah....Nobody smokes...




The other day, i was at Khol's....A Dad was smoking ...walking away in the parking lot....He burned his 12 years son by accident.....I just had to laugh....I have seen this a lot back in Paris and it just is the symbol of what smoking is to me........


Oh, and by the way....I saw an actor smoke in Avatar and had to laugh too......Well, You get a FAT check by the cigarette industry if you smoke in a movie.....Did you know that?
You thought famous Actors do anything in movies for Free......LOL. They go on Oprah for Free.....That's about it....
a lot of my friends smoke in Paris and that is OK. I still love them....
And they know it....

23 comments:

Debby said...

I ohhhh so agree with you on smoking. I hate being near it. I took the littles to the park the other day. It was a rather new one and no one was there. Then 3 adults came with two littles. Wouldn't you know they sat near me and smoked. We left. What a bad habit. I'm afraid I would have come unglued about the guy at Kohls. This week-end we walked into a CLaire's with the granddaughters to find those crazy little bracelets. A tiny baby was getting her ears pierced and she was screaming. I almost threw up. I told my hubby that I had to get out of there before I totally lost it. ((((HUGS))))

Cielo Azul Jewelry said...

Lung cancer runs in my family....even if you don't smoke, CrAzY!!!! I never really got into that either, just let other people run with that, LOL!

OMG, how funny was Kohl's?!!!!!!

Have a great week,
xoxo,
Carol

Kissed by an Angel said...

I hat smoking, I have never ever smoked! I am so pleased taht it has been banned from all public buildings in the UK now!! It was a nightmare going out for an evening all dressed up, freshly bathed and retuning home smelling like an ashtray!!! I used to have to shower, wash my hair and everything before bed!!! Yuk!!
xxxx

Lewaina@cliffsideranch said...

I'm not a smoker either. Never wanted to really. I have a son that smokes...:-(, and he wishes he had never started. He has tried stopping before. Hard. Someday he will, when he wants it badly enough!
I have other vices that I need to overcome, glad I never added to them by picking up smoking!
Enjoy your day.
Mercy

Victoria said...

My mom smoked from that age of 16 to 44 and my grandma died of lung cancer in her 60's. I'm very glad it's banned in most places here. My husband grew up playing baseball so he has a habit of chewing tobacco which I hate and I pray everyday that he quits! Tobacco may keep people thin but it rots your teeth and is horrible for your skin!!!

Unknown said...

You know what...the thin thing...In France people are thin because we eat less and we walk everywhere.
I have never seen a friend loose weight when they started smoking..Ever. They were eating too much and a lot of candy bars, smoking or not. I think it is an excuse to smoke or to keep smoking.

Wendy Aspinall said...

There a lot of smokers in England too. I try for five seconds when I was a teenager I thought it would make me look cool, older. It didn't last one because I lived with a ex smoker, my Dad who would shout "have you been smoking" at the top of his voice and also I wanted the money for cool clothers. My dad is great at those one liners "Instead of smoking a ciggy. Roll up the money and burn it yourself cut out the middle man" I hate to say it but I said the same thing to one of my teenagers the other day....My Dad became a non smoker because his Mum died of Cancer...I'm glad he did care enought to stop me.

The Shiny Pebble said...

My mom stopped smoking one day out of the blue. I am so proud of her. I can't stand the smell it leaves behind. Yuck!

It's me said...

I have never smoked ! ,.......yak !!!

Hugs from mr Ria

acervopop said...

Hi!
Você tem sorte de não estar muito perto de fumantes. Aqui em São Paulo existe uma lei que proíbe o fumo em lugares fechados, mas nas calçadas lá estão as chaminés ambulantes.
Adorei o teu blog, visite o meu, será bem vinda.

Abraços,
Have a great week,

Donna said...

I hate smoking too! It is my biggest pet peeve! I am so excited, because as of May 1st, smoking is banned in all indoor public places here in Michigan. And that included bars & restaurants! Yeah! If I ate at a restaurant and it was really smoky, I would never return, even if I really loved the food. I was thrilled when we went to Paris and they were no longer able to smoke inside of restaurants (they still can at sidewalk cafes). That used to be my least favorite thing about Paris (ok, my only least favorite thing about Paris!).

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

I agree with you about smoking.
My Mom died two years ago from Lung Cancer. Both of her lungs were ruined by the nicotine. She smoked two packs a day. She only lived six months after diagnosis. She lived several months in pain and required a lot of care. My sister and brother saw her die and they both smoke and will not give them up!!
So sad.

Point well taken.

hugs
Sissie

Madeline's Memory said...

Good for you! I tried smoking a few times as a dumb teenager, but it is not for me. I am disgusted by it now.
My husbands family members smoke, but luckily he doesn't.
I get offended being in public places and am forced to breathe in the smoke that someone else has chosen to spew about. Blahhh, why do I have to be exposed to second hand smoke when I choose not to smoke myself?? Crazy!
Enjoy, Dana

P.S. I still want that necklace :)

Kristie said...

Your posts reminds me of my time in Paris. Yes everyone smokes and strangely it is such a natural ok thing to do. Here in CA, we are so mindful of the smokers that it's not a "norm" thing to do in a restaurant and especially in a mall!

Phivos Nicolaides said...

I share your views on smoking. You look gorgeous in the picture!

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Ha isn't it funny to see people smoke in movies in used to be so cool, now it's fairly uncommon. Then there were the 1950's when doctors told you menthol cigarettes were good for a cold:-)
We've come a long way baby!
Bella

Erica - haveninparis said...

Hi there. Thanks for linking to Tory's post on our blog! I have noticed that the French are smoking less, which is lovely. Possibly the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants really will help after all! A bientot - Erica

Jill said...

I am a smoker that doesn't smoke, I haven't for 10 years and I now really hate the smell of it and really resent it when I'm walking down the street behind someone who is, I gave up, I don't want to smoke theirs.

Hugs RosieP x

KathyB. said...

Both of my parents smoked and I was never, ever tempted to smoke. It stinks, cigarette smoke stinks and stains...I remember stinking of my parents smoke everywhere I went..and the stains on their walls from the constant smoke. It is not glamorous , or pretty, just yucky and addictive. Gee, can you tell I am not now, nor ever was, a smoker?

BTW, I love my parents...just not the cigarettes~don't mind others smoking around me, just make sure I am not downwind.

HeARTworks said...

I "brainwashed" my son when he was little to hate smoking and once he asked a stranger to my chagrin, "Why are you smoking, you will die!"

Unknown said...

I think knowledge is power bella :)
Thank you all for sharing your story :)
Frenchy

MarySue said...

I am a new follower via CuisineNie. What brought you to be living in Utah?

Heather said...

I had no idea actors got paid to smoke in movies...crazy! I should have figured I guess. Love your pic at the top, so eye catching! Thanks for stopping by my blog and happy new friend Friday!
Heather @ www.savingmoneylivinglife.com

Contact me at: isafrenchy@gmail.com