My pops and I are driving down the open road. Music Blaring. Enjoying a summer day.
Now you see he is old school and likes to listen to his 70’s and 80’s music. He used to drink alot in high school and through his early 20’s. A major alcoholic he was and was not very nice to mom. Yet, he never hit me. I think it was some “feel compassionate for me” thing. So, one day he goes to the rehab place and dad quits drinking. I was so happy!
No more hitting mama, no more late nights! I thought all his addictions were over! He was as I thought a changed man. But in one way I was wrong. Dad still smoked 2 boxes of cigarettes a day. The red Marlboro ones. I could never breathe in the car and it was treachorous. I urged time and time again.

“Dad, why don’t you quit?”

“Because son, addictions are hard to break”.
“Oh, well can’t you please do it for me?”
“Sorry buddy, I’ll do it on July 20”

Well, he always made those stupid dates and it’s not like I could force him to quit to quit.

Or could I?

(to be continued)…