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I completely forgot that January 8, 2004 marked the 6th anniversary of my quitting smoking.

I can't believe it's really been six years. I can't really believe I managed to do it at all.

I smoked for more than 30 years, having quit a few times, once for three years. But six ears is the longest I have ever gone without a cigarette.

OK, I admit that at the decompression party at the hotel bar after my daughters wedding I had one after a few drinks, but it tasted really nasty, and that's truly the only one I had. Fortunately, I also rarely drink anything more than a glass of wine anymore, so it's not likely that I'll have any occasion to be tempted to have another anytime soon.

I started smoking originally because it seemed like a way to be cool at the time. It so happens that I have a really addictive personality so once hooked, it was very hard for me to quit. I lived with another smoker and we smoked without shame for years and years. I even smoked when I was pregnant all three times. But I have to forgive myself for that since back then there was no instruction to stop.

Even later when no one around me smoked anymore, and I was no longer married to a smoker, I continued to be an anathema. I fiercely clung to my habit, defending my right to smoke. Although I smoked outside everywhere else, in rain and snow and sleet and hail; in my house, I smoked without regard to anyone else's health needs. The fact is, I was an addict, and my drug need came first. My reward for all of that is that two of my three kids smoked. Although one has now quit, his wife still smokes. I am so sorry for my part in making smoking seem OK.

I tried every means to quit from hypnosis to nicotine gum. The gum was the most useful crutch, but then, quitting the gum became nearly impossible. In my final attempt, I just had to say the hell with it, the only way to get rid of the habit is to just quit cold turkey, and so I did. I've since read that that is the most effective way to quit and stay quit, and for me it was true.

I can't say that I don't miss it, because I really do, and if they said it would be OK for me to smoke tomorrow I'd be first in line. Or, maybe not, since it now costs so much. That's another reason I am grateful I quit. I really couldn't afford to support my habit anymore.

Anyhow, I wanted to mark the quit day here and give myself a pat on the back for actually accomplishing something which was nearly the hardest thing I ever did, and which has had a clear role in improving my health and the atmosphere around here in more ways than one.

Now, if only I could just summon up the same will power to eat healthy, exercise and lose weight, I'd be golden for those so called golden years.

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