Updated September 12, 2014.

From Betty:

It's the Fall of 1956
President Dwight Eisenhower has just been re-elected (bet those "I Like Ike" buttons are worth a lot now), Elvis made his first appearance on television on the Ed Sullivan Show a few months ago (think this kid might have a singing future), the '56 T-Bird is out and a big hit, and the Milwaukee Braves beat the New York Yankees in the World Series (aw!!).
Mary Ellen and Betty are 13-year-old best friends.

As they get off the school bus together on this fall afternoon, they are giggling (as usual) and heading for the woods behind their homes. Mary Ellen said she had something she wanted to show Betty, but she kept it a secret all day.

Once in the woods and out of sight of the neighbors, Mary Ellen takes a pack of cigarettes out of her jacket pocket. She tells Betty that she has learned how to smoke, thanks to the boys in the neighborhood (including both of their brothers). Hmmm...Betty's thinking, "I never want to do anything my brother does!"

Mary Ellen lights the cigarette, takes a long, dramatic drag on it and blows the smoke out slowly. She lights a cigarette for Betty, tells her to suck in, hold it, blow out. Skeptical and feeling nervous, Betty does just that - coughing, sputtering, and choking all at once. Mary Ellen laughs; she says it takes some practice and begins her patient lessons. Within the hour, Betty is almost as good at it as Mary Ellen, but she is not quite as sure that this is a good idea.

Oh well, maybe they'll just do it this time, and that will be the end of it.

As the girls head to their homes, they are giggling again and discussing the dance coming up on Friday night.

Betty, a lover of dolls (and still with a bedroom full of them), a good student who enjoys school, a good girl who tries to do what's right, is now defined for the next 50 years by what happened this afternoon. She is an addict.

My Story

Through my marriage at 20, the birth of my two dear daughters by 23, and through the many wonderful, sad, funny, events of my life, smoking was a constant. I never really thought about quitting, and I didn't start worrying until the information began to come out about the medical links to smoking. Even then, it didn't worry me enough.
In 1990, my only sibling, my brother, Jerry, was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer at age 47. He was a 3-pack a day smoker, and the news was devastating. He suffered terribly and died 18 months later at 49. Still, I smoked. It is stunning how your own mind can lie to you.

It would be 14 years later, with the love and example of my daughter, Mic, that I would take the leap of faith and start this journey. She brought me to this forum, and my life changed. Surrounded by so many new friends here - encouraged and uplifted by their stories and advice - my confidence grew and I felt great! The breathing was deep and full, the cough and wheeze that I lived with 24/7 for years were completely gone. Life was good.

During the Christmas holidays, 10 weeks cigarette-free and fresh off the patch, I traveled to my daughter's home where our family gathers every year to celebrate the Christmas holidays. Feeling strong and sure of myself, I was shocked to have a trigger I never saw coming hit me head on. The past years of being the only smoker in this situation; of going outside in frigid weather to have a few quick drags - these were not happy memories, but they were there - and they were familiar. Being in this situation for the first time since quitting triggered cravings to smoke that I hadn't expected and didn't know how to deal with. I smoked.

I lost my quit, but I learned a lot from those 10 smoke free weeks - I learned to never take a situation or a day for granted, and I also discovered I would never be a comfortable smoker again. I'd spent too much time educating myself about nicotine addiction and recovering from it to go back to smoking again full-time. There was no decision involved - I knew I would begin again.

And after one more brief, unsuccessful try, I felt ready to continue the journey. I had never gone back to smoking 1 1/2 packs a day, as I was when I first quit, so I started at Step 2 on the patch and followed the procedure. The first 2 months were very serene for me, but I stayed alert. Sure enough, right around 10 weeks, I was hit with a case of the icky threes! But I went back to basics, played a lot in the games section, and with the support of wonderful people here, the road to recovery became a smoother one. Soon, the weeks were flying by! The benefits have been tremendous, the freedom bringing it's own magic!

If I have ever posted to you, played games with you, had fun in Chat with you, or hopefully helped you in any way, please do one important thing for me. If you ever feel weak or alone, reach out to the caring forum members for help; if you slip or relapse, please stay right here and let your friends help and encourage you to get back on the Freedom Train. The only failure in falling is in not getting back up. This is a journey for your life, and this is the place that will support you always.

Thank you to my wonderful best friend and husband of 42 years, Tony. To my daughters, Michelle and Francine, my son-in-law John and my four grandchildren, Tony, Alayna, Michelle and Mitch. Their love and support mean the world to me.

Thank you to Terry, our wonderful Guide, and to the tireless and terrific mods: Mic, Gaylene, Lesly, Kerri, Linda, and Tammy. And to all my dear friends for a lifetime, your love and support mean so much. To every member of the forum, thank you for being the most wonderful group of people I have ever known.

Together, we are a force to be reckoned with! Together, we will all claim the freedom that is rightly ours'!

One day at a time!