.. I smoked a pack+ of Marlboros per day for 35 years. I smoked 3 on the way to have my heart by-pass and would have smoked 1 more if my wife would have driven slower! I was in the hospital for 9 days without being able to smoke, I came home and made the 10th day, then the 11th day and now five years later.... I do on occasion smoke a cigar and have a couple shots of whiskey (3~4 times a year). I feel like I deserve that much, but I feel like an alcholic in that I am cautious that I don't start over (smoking) when I smoke a cigar now and then.

A friend helped me by telling me that when I have an urge to smoke wait 20 minutes and then light up.... after 20 minutes I always had forgotten about it. I never intended to quit, it just worked out that way.