OK, let Uncle Kathy start out by saying I'm a smoker. I've been smoking since I was in 7th grade at E.O. Smith Junior High School in Houston.  I started earlier than that though, smoking candy cigarettes in the 2nd grade. They were sweet and good, so I couldn't wait until I got older and was able to actually light one up and puff the smoke out of my nose.  Plus, I enjoyed those Joe Camel cartoon billboards and advertisements.  Those damn smoking giants knew what they were doing: targeting kids, get us hooked early, and we'll be smoking for life.

I tried the damn patch and it gave me a rash.  I attempted to use the gum, but the bitter taste gave me an upset stomach.  I event went cold turkey for a full two hours, but after damn near sweating to death and shaking like Mohammad Ali, I went ahead and got my lighter and grabbed my Newports!  For me, it just wasn't worth it.

And anybody who loves Uncle Kathy knows I ain't gonna stop smoking for nobody.  But, this week's lady, who, like myself, is a smoker, wants my advice on what to do--cause her boyfriend doesn't light up at all:

I have a question possibly for Uncle Kathy.  Even though it is somewhat personal.  And, I am afraid of the answer.  I am dating a guy who doesn't smoke, and I do!  Actually, I quit after we dated for two months, and I was smoke free for 4 months, then we broke up and I started again.  We are beginning to talk again so, I am once again going to quit.  He knows about Uncle Kathy's weekly column, and said I should get her take on my dilemma.

Thanks in advance,Puff Puff Pass

Listen here Puffy, P-Diddy or whatever you call yourself, be true to yourself.  Sounds to me like you're a serial quitter, depending on who you're dating.  But you gotta be true to yourself, otherwise you ain't gonna be happy!  Take it from me, as long as I was "Auntie Kathy" trying to please everybody else, I was far from happiness. Once I came out as "Uncle Kathy" a weight was lifted from my shoulders and I was free to be me...

OK, I done took a walk on the wild side and forgot about answering your damn question.  What Uncle Kathy is trying to say baby is that regardless of whether or not this man is in your life or out of it, you've got to quit smoking for YOU otherwise it ain't gonna never work.  As a veteran smoker, I would NEVER tell somebody to stop quitting; because hell, you're grown. You know what you want to do--your ass wants to smoke!  You done read the warning signs on the box, if you still wanna smoke, you do so at your own risk.  We all do, Uncle Kathy included.

So be honest with yourself and realize that you want to smoke, you like it, and you ain't gonna stop. Tell this man that--and if he still loves you--y'all work out a compromise so that you can still smoke without blowing it in his face and making him smell like the Marlboro Man.

If he does something silly like give you an ultimatum and say you "have to quit smoking or else": let the door knob hit him where the good Lord split him.  Get dressed up, go out to the bar, sip a drink while puffing on your Newports and wait for someone who enjoys the aroma of nicotine to make your acquaintance.