November 19, 1981

On Wednesday November 19, Eric announced that we would be participating, as a station, in The 5th Annual Great American Smokeout the next day. It was to be a full day devoid of smoking. All the jocks (DJ's) smoked. There were ashtrays all over the station. I think there were ashtrays all over every station in America in 1981. Burning cigarettes created a grayish brown haze in control rooms everywhere. There was enough smog to make you think you were in LA. Just the thought of an entire day without smokes had me cradling my head with both hands and rocking from side to side. This flash promotion would be the hardest for me because I started my day way before anyone else doing the Morning Show. Hours of suffering was all I could think of.

Thursday morning arrived with a thud. I slapped myself together and then I slapped myself. This would be a tough day,

I had smoked since Jeff Fisher shoved a Kool in my mouth and stuck a lighter in my face when I was 16. In high school I switched to UNFILTERED Kools to keep the other guys in the boy's room from bumming smokes or a drag. That actually worked. I’d shake out some of those raunchy Kools and the mooches would back up and wave a hand with a big NO thank you. Then Coach Powell, like clockwork, marched in and blew his ear drum busting whistle and the smokey boys' room clatch scattered like roaches.

I made it through my show without breaking anything or mumbling on air like an addict about to be committed. GM Dick stopped by my studio and shook out a fresh Marlboro 100 to test my mettle. I dutifully declined his offer.

After my show I sat in the programming office and thought to myself this is really rank. Eric looked at me and said you look kinda green. My hands didn’t know what to do. I kept reaching into my pocket for a pack that wasn’t there. Under my arm pits I held my hands in a strait jacket stance. I begged him to let me go. I couldn’t take it anymore.

My first stop was the El Cheapo where I asked the clerk for a pack of Winstons in the hard pack. I offered a twenty to pay and he said, “I can’t break that bill.” What?! NO! At that moment I noticed he had a burning cigarette in an ashtray behind him with a pack next to it. I said hey man, I really need a cigarette, can you give me one? The clerk obliged and I lit it up in the store and after an initial puff, I weakly offered a thanks, man. I was dizzy and made my way to my car like a drunk.

It would take me a few more tries to quit, but I finally realized success in February of 2000. I went cold turkey and have not touched a cigarette since. It was one of the better decisions I’ve made in the past 20 plus years.
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