There's more of rant than of news in this post.

I always think it's interesting to look around you and notice how different or simular you are from other people. This becomes more interesting when in a foreign land. One difference I can see between myself and every other person around my age that I have met so far in Germany is this: They smoke... a lot.

It's hard. I will admit to trying it. I mean, who hasn't. Trying is a crime, though I will NEVER become a smoker. I spent far too long getting my dad off Satan's evil smoke. But, it's hard to sit in a group of 3, 6, or 10 people and be the only one who doesn't resemble a chimney. It makes me proud, but it also makes me verryyy different.

I talked with Melly today about how in America, it's not the norm to smoke. While here it seems expected and seems to be looked at as a good thing. I don't really get it.

I feel bad when I see my friends here start to need the cigarette. Today I went to the pool with Melly. We get laid out with towels and lean back to catch some serious rays (say no to lung cancer, skin cancer???? um... maybe.) Then Melly realizes that she left her cigarettes in the car. Since she had to pay to get in, she can't go back out and get back in. So the withdrawl begins.

Later while we sat at the food court...is that what it's called?... anyways. I was munching on ice cream, and Melly on french fries, when I started to notice she was holding the french fries like one would a cigarette. Rolling my eyes I told her there was a vending machine behind her that sold her "pacifiers". She gave me a weird look. After explaining what a pacifier was, and that I was trying to be funny... sarcastic? ... by calling it that she then hopped up to get her larger bill broken to small change so she could get a hit.

Not even waiting until she was sitting down she started to open the packaging and sat down excitedly. Watching her I watched as the lightblub above her head flickered and lit. She didn't have a lighter.

I, of course, laughed at her misery.

She then held a cigarette in one hand, poised to light, and in the other gripped her box of cigarettes.

We talked for a while, while I watched her eagle eyes search out for a fellow smoker. I saw the moment she spotted one, her eyes lit- much as she wished her cigarette would, and she rushed over to an old lady in a bright blue bikini- *shudder*- and bummed a light.

Me? I would have held out for a cute guy... but that's just me.

This post isn't so much to rag on Melly. Because she's simply awesome. A great friend, and a truely beautiful person. (and yes she reads this blog, so I don't want her mad at me for sharing). I just wanted to point out the difference, and I think this was a great example.

I think it's sad that so many people smoke, and they don't seem to see how it effects them. I don't think my dad did. Me. I won't be a smoker, doesn't mean I don't occasionally light up, but there's a difference. In habit, in the need to smoke. Then again, I'm not one to cast stones. I crack my knuckles all the time.