SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES

It takes time to learn how to live better because I can remember when I was younger I smoked but I was never a heavy smoker and managed to stop easily. I know for heavy smokers it is a real challenge to give up the habit. I recall a time when I was living up north in the winter time and driving in my car with the windows closed and the heater turned on. I lit a cigarette and felt very comfortable being nice and warm. As I reminisce about that experience, I realize how foolish I was. Today, I can't even stand secondary smoke.
We decided to get together with an old college friend we hadn't seen in over twenty years who happened to be in Florida on the west coast. Our friend suggested that it would be convenient to meet at a hotel mutually convenient for her family and us. We arrived much earlier than our friends so we had an opportunity to look around and  it was quite a place to see. I have been in gambling casinos on cruise ships but this gambling arena far outsized those of any cruise ship.

Have you ever been in a building and smelled the vestige of smoke from a fire that had taken place in it? Immediately, my eyes started to feel a slight irritation and there was a feeling of closeness in the air. I began to see hundreds of slot machines and heard the echoes of bells ringing as the machines posted winners and losers. There were many people sitting on stools using one hand for smoking a cigarette and the other for pressing the button to reap their harvest of wealth. We walked into the lobby and found many families registering for their hotel room to stay and enjoy their visit at this hotel and casino. It was our first and only visit to meet our college friend.  
As we strolled through the lobby, the air of secondary smoke followed us with no end in sight. Yet, the visitors, young and old appeared to be immune from it. We finally walked outside and stood where the car hops were stationed and mentioned to one of them that we found breathing difficult inside the hotel. His comment was, "Yes, I know. For a while I worked inside and I couldn't take it either and feel better breathing out here parking cars."

After meeting our friends we had lunch together at one of the restaurants adjacent to the hotel where the air was free of secondary smoke. I was challenged by the discomfort I experienced and found out that there are non-smoking areas and other hotel casinos that are smoke free. However, it never ceases to amaze me why people subject themselves to such a smoky environment. Among those who smoke there are those who don't but I guess the attraction of gambling to seek a fortune is more important than being smoke free.

I get the feeling that smoking is condoned in casinos maybe because there wouldn't be as many non smokers venturing to gamble. I wonder if there is any connection between gambling and smoking. What do you think? I say, go where smoke doesn't get in your eyes. May 19, 2011