Mike’s HOF Speech – That Guy
Allow me to start by saying that this has been quite a journey, one with many ups and downs. It seems that when you are at your lowest, life smacks you around a little bit more. Well, the day I quit dipping I was at my lowest. I was not my normal, lovable self. Most of you reading this understand what I am saying, but for somebody not “in the quit” it may be a little confusing for them. What I mean is that I started at my lowest, but thanks to the QS gang I am now at my highest.
I was very confused as to how to go about writing this speech. Is it a speech, or is it a Declaration of Independence?
The theme of my Declaration of Independence is That Guy. I will try my best to explain what that is and why I will never be That Guy again.
We will begin by placing you into my thoughts after I get a call from my personnel manager at work. I get off of the phone and I immediately know I will have to pack for six to eight weeks. Do I have enough clothes, toiletries, underwear, and socks? Of course I do, I keep a readiness bag in the upstairs hallway closet. What do I need? That’s right, I need a supply if delicious Red Seal! I need to make a trip to Sam’s Club! So, I head to Sam’s and go straight to the tobacco counter. I then do the quick math in my head and figure out what I need so I say “I need six logs of Red Seal Natural Cut, please.” I hand over my credit card and I sign the slip for this exuberant amount and I head back to the house. Home free, right? Wrong. Now, I have to worry about smuggling that much tobacco on an international flight or onboard a vessel. Most may not know, but you can only have 400g of smokeless tobacco with you. Whew! Made it through customs again!
I DO NOT WANT TO BE THAT GUY!
So, I am at work when one of the crane operators walks in to have some coffee and small talk. After a few minutes, he spits a long and brown stream of nastiness into my trash can. I cannot say that I was upset, far be it for me to be a hypocrite, but I was disgusted! I can’t believe how awful that looks, and how unprofessional!
I DO NOT WANT TO BE THAT GUY!
I recall numerous times in the last 10 years or so of my life when somebody would ask me “Why don’t you just quit?” You know what my response was? “I can’t.” Can you believe that? My honest and stupid response was “I can’t.” For the most part of my dipping career, I knew that nicotine had a hold on me like nothing else.
I DO NOT WANT TO BE THAT GUY!
I remember and still see the ads in most of my favorite magazines that show and group of guys hanging out with a group of gorgeous women. Did I start for the glamour of it all? I really don’t think so. I started because I wanted to stay warm when I was hunting or fishing. It crept up from one can a month or so to somewhere around two cans a day! Next thing you know, I have a dip in all of the time. The only time I ever took my dip out was when I was eating or sleeping.
I DO NOT WANT TO BE THAT GUY!
As many of you know; I found out that I was going to be a father for the first time. As you may know, news like that can be very joyous and very scary at the same time. I got through the craves with the help of my quit brothers. Then I found out something that only a few of my brothers know about, something that will hit me hard and test my quit like never before. Instead of having one child at a time like most people, my wife and I are the 1 in 42,000 that will be having triplets. This set off a new crave like I have never had before. Once again, my quit brothers were there for me.
A great father, I WANT TO BE THAT GUY!
A loving and caring husband, I WANT TO BE THAT GUY!
A person with white teeth, I WANT TO BE THAT GUY!
A person that never has nicotine enter his body again, I WANT TO BE THAT GUY!
You know what? I will be That Guy! I will never have nicotine slow me down again.
In closing, I would like to thank my wife, Erin. I am nothing and without her and I am weak. She is my soul and my spirit. She is my rock. I will never forget the day that she saved my life, the day she found QS.org. Thank you sugar, I love you.
This is also for my mother. She was my best friend and the best mother in the world. She died a little over a year ago due to lung cancer that had spread to her brain. She smoked for the majority of 30 years and like us tried to quit several times but never did. She asked me to quit after she was diagnosed, when we knew it was too late. What made me wait so long to carry out her last request I will never know. But I am quit now, I love you mom.
This is for my three kids that snuck into my life so fast. For now, we will call you Huey, Dewy, and Louie. I don’t know you yet. I don’t even know if you will be boys or girls. I do know that you come from good stock and I will love you more than you will ever know. I will be around for a long time; you can thank your mother and all of your uncles on QS.
Lastly, I would like to thank all of my fellow quitters on QSLite and QSExtreme. I could not have done it without your witty banter, sarcasm, and strong words. All of you played an instrumental part in my quit. Even if I never saw or chatted with you, you helped me. Most of all, AngusGT looked out for me the most. Not only did we enter the HOF on the same day, we were always there for each other when needed. I remember I sent him a PM once that said “I caved” as a joke. He called my cell phone in record time and threatened to come all the way to Texas to kick my butt. I have never met AngusGT, or any of you, but I will always think of you as friends. If you are ever in the Houston area and need a hand, call me. It is the least I could ever do for you.
Do you want to be That Guy? Take the first step and put the can down.
Regards,
Mike Vernon, Dec 2006 St. Nic-O-Frees
Professional Quitter
NOTE: This piece written by KillTheCan.org forum member mike
