Janice Milliman, Quit Coach, Service Delivery:

I would like to publicly thank my dad for quitting smoking.

Both of his parents smoked, and at age 13 Dad snuck the first of many cigarettes from his parents' stash. "It was awful, and I got dizzy!" he told me. "But I kept trying."

His father died shortly after retirement at age 62, from pneumonia. Only a few weeks later his mother, also 62, died of cancer. Although it's uncertain to what extent smoking contributed to their deaths, smoking certainly shaved years off their life.

Dad worried, probably more than most, that he wouldn't even live to see his 60's, and certainly not his 70's. Recently celebrating his 68th birthday (or "The 20th anniversary of my 48th birthday," as he says), he has well outlived the age when his parents died.

After 40+ years of smoking Dad finally got tired of it and decided to quit. He faced a lot of challenges, in my opinion, because he was around so many other smokers: at work in the auto shop he owned, socializing at the bowling alley with friends, and his wife smoked too. He quit over 10 years ago, and never regretted that decision. Even many years after quitting he's had several scary health events and multiple hospitalizations. Smoking would have only compounded those health issues, and if he continued to smoke I'm sure he wouldn't be alive today. At least 7 of his 9 lives have already been used up!

I am happy for him that with the added years he's been able to enjoy semi-retirement, car racing, golf, and numerous vacations. He even learned how to email several years ago and has a Facebook page. He loves to brag about going to the gym, and how far he walked on the treadmill. Sometimes I think he has more energy than I do!

Dad's longevity has enabled me to spend more quality time with him, and we've grown much closer over the last several years. My children have gotten to know Grampa really well too, and they enjoy spending time with him. I try to visit my dad once a week at work (Dad's auto repair business, which my brother now owns) to chit chat over coffee. We go out for dinner frequently, and share stories about our crazy cats.

Dad feels fortunate to have successfully quit. I feel fortunate to have him in my life. Thanks Dad!