Glenn Norris, Powell
I read with some interest the article regarding lung cancer deaths in Tennessee and the measures to curb smoking such as raising tobacco taxes. I have an idea of a different direction that might work.
Forty-eight years ago my employer, Fred Vreeland, a respected local engineer, offered me $50 if I would quit smoking for three months. I guess he could see that maybe I would be more productive if I wasn't smoking, but maybe he was just considerate of my health. I was 23 years old at the time and had been smoking since I was 13. I knew this would be a very difficult task, but I had my eye on a special .22-caliber rifle I wanted. Also, at about this time medical information came out that for every minute you smoked, you lost a minute of your life. I thought at the time that this was a terrible price to pay for smoking. I went "cold turkey" and laid down my smokes for three months.
So, guess what? I haven't had even a single cigarette for the past 48 years. During that time I have saved thousands of dollars and have benefited from relatively good heath. But I have had a couple of heart bypasses that I probably wouldn't have survived had I smoked.
I have offered several other individuals the same offer I received, but I have had to sweeten the pot to $300 to entice them to quit smoking. I highly recommend others would give a special person the same offer my boss gave me 48 years ago. I can testify this method really works.
