7 years

I was one of the kids that signed up for the "Smoke-Free Generation." This was a gimmick they tried here in Minnesota to try to get kids to not start smoking. So, I signed the pledge and went to the concert held at the Metrodome. At the concert we were treated to such heavy-hitters as The Jets and Jesse "the Body" Ventura (I got the arms, I got the legs, I got the muscle.) Truly inspiring.

It turned out that the peer-pressure, or some other force was stronger for me and I started smoking in high school.

I was a slave to the cigarette for more years than I care to admit.

Then I got engaged and had a vision of myself standing in my wedding dress with a cigarette in my fingers. I didn't like the look of that vision. I didn't like that I would need to duck outside during my wedding reception to catch a quick smoke.

So, February 22, 2000, I went to work armed with my nicotine gum and my determination.

Craig assures me that I was a real bitch to live with for at least a couple of weeks after, but I did it. And you can too.