January 16, 2004

• Bare Hand
  

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  Currently it is
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Bedford, Hanscom Field Last Update on Jan 16, 7:56 am EST

  Fair -8°F (-22°C) Humidity: 49 % Wind Speed: W 12 MPH Barometer: 29.56" (1003.2 mb) Dewpoint: -22°F (-30°C) Wind Chill: -27°F (-33°C) Visibility: 10.00 mi. More Local Wx: 2 Day History:

  
  

  In this weather frostbite starts to appear on exposed skin within ten minutes. In this environment exposing any piece of skin is an act that is something between stupid and irresponsible.

  
  

  Into this harsh world struts the nicest type of addict I know, the smoker. Oh these people are a piece of work and a tribute to the compulsion of an addiction.

  
  

  The easiest way to identify these folks is by the bare hand they sport on days like today. Held tightly in the blue skinned white knuckled shaking extremity is a smoking fag, a butt. In an exposition of pure chemical consumption the smoker's paw moves quickly from their side to mouth, a deep quick inhale of the nico-opiate, and then an exhaust belch out, in to the air, in to the surroundings, in to our collective faces.

  
  

  The distance from the train station to the subway is perhaps twenty five yards and these fiends can take more hits than Dead Heads at the Jerry Garcia Birthday Festival.

  
  

  Butts blazing brightly these intrepid junkies chug into the morning.

  
  

  And to those who are fashion conscious and aware I would like to ask where is the perfume "Ode Du Ashtray?" Can I ask that all those persons that I intend to kiss please take the burnt paper and crappy smoke breath mint before we start. And I would like to request my dry cleaner to please put the stale smoke smell into my clothes, pa-lease! Here's the dirty little secret the smoking addicts don't want to face up to; you look stupid and you smell like shit.

  
  

  On days like today you will see the smoke junkie in front of buildings because they "enjoy" having a smoke, certainly not because they NEED to have one. I wonder what my employer would say if I took an hour or more to have shots of Jack Daniel's in front of the office, hell we could set up a bar with an employee discount!

  
  

  This post has gotten slightly off on the angry tangent. Let me step back. The smoker is the nicest addict I know. They will pay anything for the drug they need, no matter how high or obscene the tax, they will dutifully stand in line for their fix. And the higher the tax the more smoking becomes a vanity symbol. I was in Montreal back when a pack of cigs cost $6.50. Guys would hand out butts to pretty girls like they were offering hits of coke. No slow down in smoking that I could see. Unfortunately high taxes lead to smuggling and all sorts of Prohibition era types of mobster vices.

  
  

  So let's thank the Junkie, the smoker, hold them on high! They will pay for our health care, they will pay for our schools, and they have no choice whatsoever. If you think they have a choice go hold your bare hand outside today for about ten minutes and tell me that is fun and enjoyable; what choice do they really have?

  • 10:26 am
  • 2 Comments