I saw you in the convenience store a couple of days ago. You were young enough to be carded, young enough to be vulnerable. You had a great smile and a cheerful disposition. You were buying a pack of Marlboros while I was waiting to pay for my gas. I desperately wanted to say, “Please don’t buy those cancer sticks!”

But I didn’t. I still believe I let you down because I didn’t say it.

Despite my advanced age, I would probably jump into the river to try to save you if you were drowning. I’m sure I would pull you out of a wrecked car in an effort to save your life.

Were I to rescue you from a burning building, I’d undoubtedly be called a hero. More than likely you’d try to do the same thing for me.

Were I to watch you put a noose around your neck — the rope tied to a rafter — and you’re standing on a chair, how should I react? Tobacco is no less a noose than is a length of hemp rope. Committing “suicide by tobacco” just takes a little longer — that’s all. If I related my own story of how close I was to death from my own tobacco folly, could I convince you?

And now we have this new warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Stay away from tobacco smoke if you are at risk for heart disease!” Terry Pechacek, associate director of science at the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health said, “We don’t make these kind of statements lightly. What we are seeing in the data is a substantial biological change that occurs with even 30 minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke.”

Honestly! I don’t want to meddle in your decisions. You live your life as you see fit. I know how difficult it is to quit smoking. Maybe it’s not even possible for you to quit. It is however, possible for anyone to stop — for an hour, a day, a week, or many weeks — then stay stopped for good. (Quit means forever — stop means only as long as your addiction allows you to be without nicotine.)

By the way, check out our new name. We have expanded from “Ames Tobacco Task Force” to “Story County Tobacco Task Force.” See if you can find any health organizations in the county that do not belong to the SCTTF.

Here’s to your health!

Lenwood Monte

Ames