Dateline- Boston 09/23/2011 12:05 PM
By Jaime Lutz, Globe Correspondent
A woman is recovering today after she walked into a moving train at Needham Center Station while trying to light her cigarette, according to an MBTA Transit Police report.
At about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Sandra Gawlik, 44, of South Natick, was walking across the platform attempting to light the cigarette, police said. She did not notice the incoming train and walked into its side.
The force of the speeding train knocked her to the ground, police said.
She was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she is being treated for a broken clavicle and an injury to the left side of her head, the police report added.
Gawlik works at the Center Cafe, which is connected to the Needham Center Station platform.
The passengers on the train were bused to Needham Heights. Service resumed at about 11:14 p.m.
Jaime Lutz can be reached at jaime.lutz@globe.com.
OK, I am not necessarily calling this woman "stupid" as suggested in my title but rather myself as I am a cigarette smoker. (Although it is a direct swipe at "light rail")
Now as a long-time smoker I do not excuse this woman from not knowing her surroundings (nor anybody), I do however understand the urge to smoke. For those who do smoke or who have know of this habit all too well.
I do not use the term 'stupid' in general terms but rather in individual scenarios and in this one, smoking cigarettes, fits me just perfectly. I have had my fill and then some of this particular, insidious habit.
HI, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER AND I AM A SMOKER (Some may know that drill?)
It is my wish to rid myself of this habit for many a reason most notably health and money and not my worry of hitting a moving train.
The only reason I announce this is that I wish your encouragement in this endeavor of mine, as all of you have given me much promise we can together save our futures both here in the U.S. and abroad.
[Note to Smokers: No, I will not become a rabid anti-smoker. This is a personal choice of my own volition]
This outreach of mine may sound selfish,,,because it is. When one knows their friends support them it makes it all the easier a task to accomplish.
I of course wish the woman in the article above a speedy recovery and thank all reading this for even the smallest of good will and yes a prayer, it's a tough habit to break.
14 comments:
Git er dun fella.
I quit smoking nine years ago and yet the victory is hollow. I went back to chewing after 24 years having nothing in my cheek except my tongue.
It is a tuff addiction to overcome, but I figger if anyone can do it you can.
Nicotine fits and trains...35 year smoker here Chris, oh the money I would have had...Good luck my friend, I too will take up the quitting endeavor one day.
Christopher, I feel your pain Dude! I was a smoker for almost 45 years until 4 years ago last July 14th. Still, once in awhile I think one would taste good ... until I smell someone elses smoke.
Randy you too ... what is it about use three? Guys, once you make up your mind go cold turkey. I had 4 cigarettes the day before I quit and none the next. It was easy. After about a week the psyco phase was over.
You will not miss "planning your day around smoking" (you know what I mean, huh). My wife and I quit the same day. If we hadn't it never would have worked. We bought "CRAP" cigarettes from the Indian Smoke Shop in Reno, and it still cost use about $2500.00 a year. Hell, over 5 years that's a new car.
You're a tough, strong conservative ... GO FOR IT ! You know where to find me if you need a peep talk.
Hey, don't be like this guy! :-P :-P :-P
Christopher, I wish I'd have quite sooner, because once I did quit it was mind numbingly obvious that I didn't need them and bottm line my smoking was negative.
I'm not anti-smoking, I'm pro-freedom as long as whatever it is is legal.
I'll add in pure honesty:
. I smoked for 42 years, starting when I was 10. I continued smoking for the most part because of all the pressure to quit. I'm a non-conformist.
. Now that I don't smoke, I do find the odor in heavy smoking areas very offensive. I can easily smell people who have been smoking and I find that stale odor offensive as well. Looking back, I know I canceled myself out of some number of social situaitons as an effect of smoking.
. I consider the whole smoking thing as having been a tremendous waste of time and money. Tremendous. Collosal.
. Food tastes the same to me, meaning Not better, but just as good, but my sniffer abilities have gone canine-like. I feel like the man with the bionic nose now, and that is a good thing most of the time.
. It was EASY to quit. I used the patch. The strongest one for 5 weeks, the # 2 for two weeks, then one day I fofgot to slap one on, went to work and it was no big deal. Intentioanlly didn't slap one on the next day and it was a Nothing deal. Been smoke free since July 2005, and have never wanted a cigarette since.
. Gained some weight and it's a challenge. Age doesn't help with that, making me wish Again I'd quit sooner.
. You have to want to quit. No outside force is going to make you want to quit.
Good luck friend. You WILL be happy about quitting if you want to quit and do..
Thanks for the vote of confidence Jaded! 8-)
Thank you Mark! 8-) I have not done the math on how long I have smoked but know I got that figure beat,,sadly. [Most likely I may have you beat by age as well?]
I guess we all have to pick our own timing on such things and I suppose our own reasons as well so if and when you may decide do not hesitate to call upon myself for support!
Thank you Odie! 8-) Congratulations to you and Mrs. Odie!
Going "cold turkey" I believe is the only way for me as well to be done with it. You and the Mrs. did it, my Dad as well plus many others have advised it too.
What you say about smelling the smoke I found to be very true after Michigan went smoke free in public and work places. The law severely limited smoking as other States have done, so when people were 'cheating' and smoking in the plant where I work it was very obvious even to us smokers and that was a real wake-up call to me personally.
Odie, Thanks for that reminder as well as it is a real motivator!
Thank you Kid! 8-) All the points you make are very, very helpful and I do want to quit the habit.
Both you and Odie have touched on the smell and as I mentioned to Odie I too have found this after Michigan's law went into effect even though I am a smoker until,,,
This 'smell' thing I believe was my real wake-up call. I have been smoking so long that my sense of smell was immune to it. I will not go into detail on a medical procedure performed on me years ago (at least 2 decades ago) but will say when tubes were removed I completely understand "canine-like" sense of smell! Sadly that was, at least immediately, in an emergency room setting (you can imagine). But once outside I could literally smell the flowers at least 30ft away! (I was a smoker then as well)
I WANT THAT BACK!
I've heard that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine, and I can believe it. I've never done coke, but I did smoke and chew for over 20 years, and it sucked kicking the habit. I was tired and miserable all the time, and my head was cloudy for about three months.
But it was worth it! From the health and financial perspective. Also, just from the freedom aspect. I would leave the house and then pat my jeans pockets in a panic fearing I had left my trusy can of Cope behind. I just hated being that addicted, and I thank God I am not anymore.
You've got to fight the urge to feed your face in the evenings to compensate. I recommend baby carrots. Yeah, they're not the greatest snack food, but they're crunchy and you can stuff yourself with them and they won't make you fat.
Good luck and God bless.
LOL! Thanks for the best laugh I've had this week, Woodsterman!
Thanks Silver! 8-) I'm happy to hear of your success and my desire is to replicate it.
I am lucky (some might say?) in regarding weight gain as I am one that no matter what I consume or in what amount is a non-factor being I have a high metabolism so this was never a concern at least to me.
However, the idea of baby carrots sounds healthy as well as replacing the idea of lifting an over-priced, smoldering cancer stick to my mouth!
Thanks again and God Bless you and yours!
I'll say ask for advice or support any time. But if you're like me, you wont' need any. :)
Actually I remember sometimes getting in the car and reaching across to the passenger seat where the smokes used to be. I'd smile and go back to what I was doing.
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