This is a picture of an ash tray like we had when I was growing up. I loved it. It was so interesting to look at. Unusual in shape, color, texture...just fascinating to me.

My daddy used to smoke, but after he asked Jesus to be his Savior, he was convicted to quit. He said, for him, he couldn't set a good Christian example with cigarettes in his pocket. Daddy was a good man; he had his faults as we all do. He was a perfectionist, which liked to have driven me crazy at times. He had a temper; after all, we are European Hispanic, a feisty bunch. But, he loved his Lord, his family, and his church.

When my middle son was in kindergarten, his teacher was Ms. Sue. One day we were in the grocery store, and we saw someone smoking. He pointed his little finger at her and said, "Ms. Sue said, 'Don't smoke!'." He smokes now, and I wish he could/would quit. People stink when they smoke. They reek fumes which penetrate the bed, the upholstery, the car interior, and just the air around non-smokers.

Nana and Papa used to smoke at least 2 packs a day a piece, but they quit. The air was so smoky in their house, at times, it looked like fog. My nose would bleed when I visited. My mother's father used to smoke, and he would say, "gotta go fog up!" hahaha. I always thought that was funny. But he died from complications of lung cancer. My brother used to smoke, and my mother prayed for his deliverance from it. Yes, praise the Lord, he has quit, and can't imagine how he ever smoked.

Back to Nana. She had quit smoking for a couple of years. One day we were on the way home from church and she was fumbling around in her purse. Finally, Papa said, "Janice, what are you looking for?" She said, "My cigarettes!" He said, "Janice, you quit 2 years ago." She laughed and said something to the affect that you never really quit wanting one even when you quit. What a strong addiction to have.

I have NEVER had the urge to smoke, and have never even put one in my mouth. A former friend on mine asked me once to put one in my mouth just to see what I looked like. I told him/her, "No way, that is one thing you would never see me do." And, I mean it! I HAVE NO DESIRE to taste a nasty cigarette. YUCK!

And, I don't see how people afford to smoke. It is just like rolling a dollar bill up and lighting it. Makes NO sense to me.