I’m going to say something that may surprise a few of you and those who are close to me thought they’d probably never hear: I am trying to quit smoking.

I won’t go into how it came about but know this: my husband gave me the strength to say it was OK to quit. I don’t know how to explain it but those of you who have quit or attempted to quit know what I mean. When I would tell people I didn’t want to talk about quitting because it just made me want one, they would laugh. I was serious. I have smoked for longer than I have done just about anything except breath. Ironic, isn’t it?

I have a friend who is 90-some days clean and chewing the gum like a mad man. Now he’s addicted to “chewing the gum.” I’m serious. I talked to him Friday and he was at the point where just when you think it will be OK and you can do it, it’s like the first week all over again. His eyes had that gleam that told of a man on the edge. One false move and it was all over.