I smoke Lucky Strike cigarettes. Not very many people smoke them these days because they have no filter, i.e., a “Lucky” is just a plain old cigarette. The “no filter” bit is the reason I smoke them. That is to say, if you are going to smoke, smoke a cigarette. I remember a few years back when a guy asked me why I didn’t smoke cigarettes with a filter. There was only one logical response to that, “If I wanted to smoke cotton, I’d smoke my shirt.”
To make a long story short, I started smoking “Luckies” in 1955 and I’m not quitting.
By the way, Lucky Strike cigarettes came on the market in 1871.
What is all of this building up to? Beats me.
I visit a local bar, quite frequently may I add. I couldn’t tell you how many times people have looked at my cigarettes and made comments which are mainly, “You smoke cigarettes with no filter?” and “I didn’t know they still made those.” So I have two answers pretty much down pat, “Yes” and “They do.”
Oh yes, on quite a few occasions, somebody has asked me for one of my smokes.
I’m sure glad I said what I just said because I remembered why I started writing this in the first place.
I was having a drink with a friend of mine, John, and, for some reason, John said, “I’ve noticed how many people ask about your cigarettes and a few of them will ask for one.” Then, less than 30 seconds later, a young fellow walked up to me and said, “I’ve never seen a cigarette like that. Would you mind letting me smoke one?” John and I just looked at each other and smiled.
Why in the dickens did I bother to write this? Well, don’t blame me, blame John because he’s the one who talked me into it.
