Written for RDP, where leapingtoes asks us
to get creative with the words ‘catalyst’.
Thanks, Toes! Here’s my take.
Addictions and Other Fun Things
My husband was a smoker for most of his life, starting as a teenager with unfiltered Camel cigarettes. I was a smoker as well, but quit 35 years ago as part of a bet with a friend. I won! But I digress. Nine years ago, my husband had a freak accident involving a roof and a ladder. He ended up needing surgery for a fractured tibia/fibula, known as a “tib-fib” in medical jargon. After the surgery, he was transferred to the medical center’s rehabilitation facility where he spent the next three weeks. Rehab was a “Smoke-Free Zone”; employees, residents and visitors could not smoke anywhere on the grounds, not even outside. My husband’s stint there was, without a doubt, life-altering …. a catalyst for quitting smoking. Rehab did more than mend his broken bones; he came home (and remains) a non-smoking man.
NAR©2026
This is “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk” by Rufus Wainwright
All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
I bet your husband was so happy that he was able to quit smoking! I’m sure he felt much better soon after. I really enjoyed your song, I have never heard it and it really suited my mood tonight. Thank you!
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He was ready, Lisa. Believe me, I tried to get him to quit numerous times; that’s something you can’t force someone to do. This time he had no choice and now the idea of smoking is repulsive to him. I’m glad you enjoyed this song. Rufus Wainwright is extremely talented and wonderfully unique. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with me.
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What Sadje said….
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It totally was. Thanks, Jodi.
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A blessing in disguise
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True, but even more than you know. While in the hospital, my husband’s bladder cancer was detected. He was treated and is now cancer free. Thank you, dear sister.
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That was really very fortunate. Blessings to you both dear sis
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It’s a “coincidence” how a serious incident became the “catalyst” for a change in ‘smoking habits’ … Carole used to smoke, until she found out that she had “MS”; she stopped the next day … and ‘Rufus” is another fav’ of mine …
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The world keeps getting smaller, dear friend. 🥰🌎🎶🚬🌏💛
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🩷
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Unintended but miraculous consequence.
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A lesser man would have walked. Thanks, D!
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Hubby and I quit the week before we got married ion 1991 so that we started married life as non smokers. At over £15 for a pack of twenty, we couldn’t afford to smoke now even if we wanted to.
Congrats on giving up.
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It is exactly the same as burning a $20 bill every day, maybe twice a day. Why would anyone do that?
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Exactly.
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My husband smoked for 40 years–starting as so many here, as a teenager. He quit over 10 years ago, but too late. Emphysema is not pretty. Three breathing treatments cannot unfix the problem.
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Nope. My dad had emphysema and bronchitis; I remember his struggle. Thanks, Lois.
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Next month concludes my 1st smoke-free decade, leaving behind unfiltered Camels that I started at age15 (ie 60 yrs ago). Thanks for sharing and best wishes to both of you.
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Congrats, Ron. There are times after 35 years when a craving will still sneak up on me. It passes quickly but never fails to remind me just how insidious it is. A disgusting habit to be well-rid-of. Thanks and best wishes to you.
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I developed a bad cough from smoking too many cigarettes and I bought a pound of weed so when I wanted a cigarette, I just rolled up a joint and that is how I was able to quit.
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That’s a very novel approach, Jim. I can’t imagine the weed was good for your cough.
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The weed made me cough more, but I wasn’t able to smoke it every place that I went to, so that weened me off of cigarettes.
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Thats a great double whammy!!
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You’re not kidding, sis!
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