I knew the time would have to come when I finally told Mom and
Dad about starting to smoke cigarettes. Should I wait until Christmas
break when I would be home and possibly spoil the mood of the holidays,
or should I let them know sooner? Maybe a letter to them with a picture
of me smoking would be the best, but I felt that was to impersonal for
such an important decision. So I decided to call Mom late one evening
for a long talk. After exchanging small talk for a few minutes I said
“Mom, the reason I called you tonight was to tell you something very
important that has happened in my life.” I thought I heard Mom’s voice
quiver after several seconds of silence “Oh, Dana, what is it?” “Mom,
I’ve started smoking cigarettes. I really, really enjoy it and I plan
to continue. It was entirely my own decision to start and I would hope
that you and Dad accept me. I want to smoke at home when I come for
Christmas, so I thought by telling you now, that you would have time to
be ready for it when I do come home.” I imagined a stunned silence for
what seemed like forever. Finally Mom spoke. “We love you very much,
Dana. You are a grown woman now and I respect you immensely for telling
me this. Don’t ever feel that your decisions in life will make us feel
any differently about you. We will be ready to accept you when you come
home.” I felt wonderful when she had said that and lit a VS 120
inhaling deeply and then exhaling slowly and peacefully. There had been
no confrontation. “Mom, I love you and Dad. Thank you so much for
accepting. Would you please do me a favor? Don’t tell anybody else
about this. I want to tell Kathleen myself when I see her at
Christmas.” Kathleen was my best friend for many years. We went on
double dates together, were cheerleaders together, were school leaders
together. We shared our hopes and dreams together, but I had never told
her about wanting to smoke. I wondered with great anticipation what her
reaction toward me would be. Losing her friendship over my decision
would be unbearable. Mom and I talked for about another 10 minutes as I
smoked the rest of my cigarette. “You know, Dana, I can tell that
you’re smoking right now and you sound so delighted and relaxed. I
think that we’ll be very interested in seeing you smoke here at home.”
“Thanks again, Mom, I’ll see you in 2 weeks.”
Mom and Dad met me as I got off the small commuter flight at the
airport. We hugged each other, Mom in particular seeming to try to see
if she could smell smoke on coat. It was only a 10 minute drive to the
house so we talked about how I was doing in my studies and the
adjustment to college, but nothing was spoken about smoking although I
could detect them being anxious about it. When we got home I said that
I wanted to go upstairs to put away my bags. Mom said “When you’re
ready, come downstairs and we’ll have a cup of coffee and talk. And
please bring your cigarettes with you.” I blushed a little and replied
“Thanks, Mom.” Entering my room I noticed everything was in its place
as I had left it except for one thing. On the table next to my bed was
a beautiful cut-glass crystal ashtray with a Colibri lighter in it. I
was overjoyed as I held the lighter in my hand and flicked it to a
flame. I grabbed my handbag and went downstairs. Mom and Dad were
sitting at the corner table by the window with the setting sun streaming
through. “Please, Dana, come and sit with us and please enjoy a
cigarette.” “Thanks for the lighter and ashtray, Mom and Dad. It means
alot to me that you have accepted my smoking.” Mom pushed an elegant
ashtray toward me as I took my VS 120’s from the handbag, slowly drew
one out of the package, and lit it. Exhaling into the sunbeam and
talking with smoke comimg out in small plumes, I explained why I had
started to them. They were very transfixed as I continued. Then Dad
spoke up saying “Dana, we would have never beleived this, but you look
very sophistocated and relaxed with your cigarette, especially that
long,thin brand. Is it Virginia Slims? You can smoke here in the house
whenever you want.” Mom added “I can’t beleive how grown up and
adult-like you look. We love you, honey.” “My only worry now,” I said
“is how Kathleen will respond. I hope she understands as well as you
have.” “You should call her, Dana, she’s already home from college,too,
and has called asking when you would arrive,” Mom replied. “Do you mind
if I go see her tonight?” I asked. “No, you two have a lot of catching
up to do” Mom answered.
I called Kathleen right away and we agreed to go for a long
drive that night. I picked her up at her house and said “I’ve missed
you, Kathleen, how’s school? Let’s go cruising!” We got in my old
Firebird that we had spent so much time together in. It was on its last
legs but just fine for driving the streets and backroads around town.
We put our handbags on the seat between us and took off. After about 15
minutes I said “Kath, will you open my handbag and get something for
me?” “Sure. What is it?” I didn’t need to answer her as she just
exclaimed “Dana! I would never have beleived it! A Virginia Slims 120
woman! I’m so happy! Here, let me light it for you too.” Kathleen
took a lighter out of her purse and her own pack of Parliament 100’s and
lit both cigarettes, handing me my VS 120. I nearly ran off the road,
realizing that I had been watching for her reaction and became unaware
of the driving for maybe 30 seconds. “Kath, you too! I was really
afraid of what you would think, but now I’m just ecstatic!” Kath
replied “I was hoping that you might start too. I love smoking. I love
my cigarettes!” Needless to say, we got caught up on lots that night
and smoked our cigarettes with great enjoyment as we cruised for the
next 6 hours. We traded cigarettes just to see how the other one felt
smoking a best friends’ cigarette of choice. I love my cigarettes!