The Hazards of Just Plain Living

Is smoking any worse than breathing the air full of pollution? Is it any
worse than working in a factory full of poisonous gasses? Is smoking
any worse than living with nuclear plants nearby?
I am sorry if this offends anyone, but when I die, I want to go out by
doing something I like to do, and by doing something that someone has told me
is bad, disgusting, unlawful, dirty, nasty, and will definitely kill me.
But am I not taking a risk every time I cross the street, or get into an automobile,
or work in a factory with hazardous chemicals floating around?
I see no difference.
If we love to dance, should we stop doing this because tomorrow we may lose a leg?
If we work hard in our workplace are we supposed to quit, because I may die from
the pollutants that are given off from the work that I do?
I love to breath fresh, but don't know where to find it anymore. There is none.
Too many have died from lung cancer that has never smoked. Explain to me how this happened. I know that we all have cancerous cells within our bodies, as many other things that can proof deadly, but there are many things that could cause the triggering of them turning into full blown cancer, be it smoking or eating something full of preservatives.
I could go out to a restaurant for a nice evening out, and die because some dumb*ss didn't wash his hand properly before he prepared my food. Am I supposed to stop going out, for fear I will die from it? I think not.

The bottom line is this..I want to live my life the same way I always have. I don't want to change a thing just because it could kill me. I will continue to get out on the highway, and just take my chance than no one will kill me with their vehicle, while driving erratically with a cell phone on their ear, or drunk as a skunk.
I will cross a street, and take my chance that someone wont come flying around a corner and hit, and kill me.
I will continue to breath the air, fresh or not, and take the chance that the diesel fumes, factory smoke, high power lines, the wonderful ozone, methane, whatever, don't kill me.

And now a word from my husband….

O.K. I have kept quiet long enough. My wife has carried the ball for long enough about the smoking "issue". Dontcha just love that term, "issue"? Well the last "issue" I had was in 1969 with the twins in the centerfold. "Issue"=Problem. Now if you have a problem with us take it up with me.
The "problem" people seem to have with us is we smoke. Now the "problem" I have is idiots trying to run our lives! You people I shall describe are non-smokers, non-everything. I don't mind if you don't smoke. Why should you mind if I smoke?
I worked in factories for 37 years breathing in every kind of foul smoke, stench, and pollutant that you can think of, and now forced to retire. I have c.o.p.d. The docs tell me to quit smoking...It has caused my condition. That's bull crap! Granted smoking doesn't help my condition but it sure as hell didn't cause it! Not all of us work in an air-conditioned office. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't want to. My father did, and I didn't care for how he had to make it to the top. I'd rather be around down home people that work hard to make a living, and are proud of what they do. Not everyone can do our kind of work. I was working with computerized machinery before personal computers were even heard of. I ran machines that would scare the heck out of most people.
Now one more "small" subject and I will quit yapping. Lets talked about those factories I worked in. Companies that made truck parts, telephones, battle tanks, and school busses. Where would you be without them? You sure don't see the old gov. complaining about them do ya! But then that's what lobbyists are for isn't it? They donate and the Gov. looks the other way? Is that how it works? Darn right it is…you don't see those big companies paying for my meds. And you wont, cause they are only concerned about profit. People in the office's may design those machines but they depend on the lowly factory worker the make them work. They could care less about the little people working their rears off to keep the non-people in their cushy life style.. Nuff said..but then this just my opinion.
kackiesguy@neo.rr.com

The Factory Worker

As written by my husband…

For all those, who have worked in factories…

I lay here coughing,
Coughing and dying.
My sweet wife beside me,
So softly crying.

The years of factories,
Have not been kind.
The smells and smoke
Come briefly to mind.

At last, I've found true love,
About her, I care.
Now the end seems near,
It just isn't fair.

So many years
Of hard work and toil.
So many years,
Of breathing burnt oil.

Now, is the time
I should look forward to life,
Not all this sickness…
Not all this strife.

My wife comforts me,
She holds me so tight,
The tears, flow freely
It just isn't right.

I will pass soon
But, only for awhile
For when my love joins me,
We will finally live in style.

We will be together again,
Of this, we are sure.
How can it not be so…
With a love so pure?

by Kackiesguy