I told her that perhaps she should stop smoking. After all, the risks of smoking are well known, I said, trying to be match the sincerity that had been dripping from her tone to me. And the side effects of the second hand smoke she was puffing in her home might hurt her children. I thought that was an important point.
She rounded on me with the vigor of the righteous. How could I ever think that I might be as healthy as she was? She was the perfect size 41x
Thus starts the great debate in the family. Overweight vs. smoking is discussed every time we get together.
One day I am going to rent a hall, a podium, and a host for a formal debate.
"Okay, everybody, please quiet down. Let's settle down here. Can you all hear me? Thank you. I would like to welcome you all to The Great Smokers vs. Eaters Debate of 1999. I hope this will be an exciting and informative evening for us all. First of all everybody, please separate yourselves into two groups. Smokers, please take seats on the left side of the room and eaters, find seats on the right side of the room. Once you get yourselves comfortable, please select a spokesperson for your group and let me know who they are.
"Speaking for the Smokers will be Antoinette and speaking for the eaters will be Marcia. Marcia and Antoinette will flip a coin to see who will speak first. And our first speaker will be . . . Antoinette. Let's begin."
"Hi everyone. I'm Antoinette and I've been smoking for 24 years. I smoke is because I don't want to gain weight. It is much worse to be overweight than to be a smoker. I read all the warnings about cigarette smoking, lung cancer, bad breath, hardening of the arteries, birth defects. I even know that it can even effect the size of my husband's, umm, well, you know. But still, I'd rather go through all that than to be fat. I may die young but at least I'll look good in the coffin."
"Yes, uh, thank you. Antoinette. Now, we will hear from Marcia."
"Thank you. I'm Marcia, and I'm overweight. I'd rather be overweight than be a smoker any day of the week. I've researched the facts about being overweight. There can be many health problems caused by excess weight. High blood pressure, diabetes, and joint problems are just to name a few. But, even though I may run these risks, if I eat sensibly and exercise, I can still be very healthy."
The saddest thing about this debate, is the feeling of victory that comes when someone gets sick. People in my family might do better to be kinder to each other.
That should go for all of us.
