Cigarettes strike again.

posted by The Vidiot @ 1:45 PM Permalink

Of the three brothers in that picture (taken in 1945, can't you tell?) only one survives... the one that never smoked.

My dad, the youngest one giving the salute there, died in 2003 -- pneumonia from complications due to treatment for cancer of the mouth. The oldest, the tall fella on the right, died yesterday -- also from pneumonia from complications arising due to treatment for his lung cancer. Frank was one tough cookie. Served in the military, Sargent of Arms, stationed in Germany. He smoked for most of his life and quit 10 years ago. They say it takes around 12 years to clear your lungs of the damage. He missed it by that much.

Not sure what his wife will do without him. He had the surgery on their 51st wedding anniversary just a few weeks ago. The surgery went well, but he suffered one complication after another. He would wake up in a panic, thinking he was a prisoner in a POW camp, begging his children to help him escape, to be free of the pain and the shackles (apparently, a reference to the equipment he was hooked up to.) Not a pleasant passing.

Still think smoking is a harmless pastime?

Labels: cigarettes, tobacco