I have begun to get really angry at the sight of people standing around public places smoking.
I hate that in order to go into WalMart, I have to take Emily through a cloud of smoke. I understand the need for them to put their cigaretted out before THEY enter the store, but why can't there be a place for them to do that, FAR FAR away from the general entrances?
We went to a Ponderosa with the girls a couple of months ago. We were pleasantly surprised that we could not smell smoke at all in the restaurant. We were, obviously, in the no smoking section, but we couldn't even tell where the smokng section was. I commented that we'd actually be able to come back to this restaurant. Well. I spoke too soon. Turns out that in order to get to the only bathroom in the place, you had to walk through the smoking section. It was a separate room, with a door that closes, which was great, on the other side of the door, but, I almost died stepping into it. I refused to let Emily "go potty". We left, instead. I did complain to the manager and said that we would never be back. They sent a coupon for a free meal. I sent it back with a CF Fact sheet. Lot of good it will do!
And, here's my favorite. At last year's Great STrides walk, I got there really early to get a spot in the parking lot where other team members could park around us, so we could have our breakfast together during registration. Well, a car (not our team) pulls up next to me (I am WAY far away form everyone else, it is 2 hours before the start of the walk...) and a bunch of smokers pile out to light up. Right next to my car. I could not beleive it. I got out of the car and stated throwing our chairs, our team poster and our coolers into the car, saying very loudly to my neighbor that
I couldn't beleive that people had the nerve to smoke at a CF walk. I made some comment about how I hope that a bunch of people with CF would team up and beat the Sh*t out of the smokers. They looked at me like they couldn't beleve what they were hearing, but no one said anything. I drove to a new place in the parking lot, but I was still fuming. The zoo was still closed, so they were obviously there for the walk.
I saw them later. They all had t-shirts "In memory of" a little girl who had died of CF. How sad. You can't even give up your unhealthy habit out of respect for your little girl? How sad.