Dear Tobacco,

Statistics are fun. They whitewash evils, expose trends, identify key points, distract, clarify, and they support - and that's just getting started. I'd say they have agendas, purpose, and want to give merit to whatever they attach themselves to.

One might even say that 100% of them are a result of articulating characteristics inherent to the subject, often with the intent of awareness and/or definition. I'm talking out my multi-syllabic ass here, but you like to do that too so I bet you're following along fine right now. Try to keep up.

We both know you're no stranger to statistics. It's one of those games that you talk people into playing - even if those folks are racking up the Karma points and can't quite figure out why they might not feel happy about their role in life in doing so. The anti-tobacco side of course likes statistics as much as the next guy, and certainly does a good job of making you look bad. But, as you seem always capable of doing, you can't just be bad... you have to be 'good ok by means of a massaged statistic' and by 'right' as in 'Consumers have the right to ignore everything else because I, Tobacco, am just that alluring'. As such, countless groups, websites and studies battle for the best statistic yet.

It's as though you use statistics to justify the logic of addicts. The only thing though, as many a person near an addict might attest, is that Tobacco robs humans of the ability to justify what is best for themselves as a whole. The whole might be relating to body, soul, environment, expectancy around lifespan, overall health, or impact on others - the whole might be greater than the sum of its parts, too. The whole might be the impact that you continue to have on Eric's family, even after his death.

Addicted Logic is then Impaired Logic. Addicted Logic lets people feel ok about their choices on the surface. Addicted Logic is thus inherently biased, and must be understood as coming from a place where that logic can't necessarily be trusted to be capable of impartiality. It's like that woman I met recently that still struggles to stay quit. How else can she, a mother, swear to her kids & partner that she has quit smoking and then still find herself hiding by the garage to get in a drag? I know she meant it when she said it, but it's as though her ability to tell the truth and keep a promise such as that is equally marred by you to become an Addicted Truth. Addicted Truth often leads to broken promises, and broken hearts.

Well dear Tobacco, your logic is impaired, and your truths are loaded. you are what you are, and as such I believe you are addicted to yourself.

So go on and get your minions to tell me that there aren't studies that show direct health damage due to 30 minutes of second hand smoke - yet. Tell me again how you weren't the key player in Eric's cancer. Go on and tell me that I am not listening to your logic, and that I should just suck it up. I know better though.

I know now that you operate under what I've now come to understand as Tobacco Logic. And what a skewed, self-perpetuating, and tainted Logic that is - inherently ;-)