"I owe my life to smoking."

[Peter11216]

Bertrand Russell describes how being seated in the smoking section of an areoplane, because, he explained, "If I can't smoke, I shall die," saved his life.

In addition, I came across Norman Mailer's description of Picasso's birth. The topic was raised earlier, here. However, I thought it would be worth quoting Mailer, from the first paragraph of the first chapter of his book on Picasso.

Picasso delivered at 11:15 P.M. in the city of Málaga, October 25, 1881, came out stillborn. He did not breathe; neither did he cry. The midwife gave up and turned her attention to the mother. If it had not been for the presence of his uncle, Dr. Salvador Ruiz, the infant might never have come to life. Don Salvador, however, leaned over the stillbirth and exhaled cigar smoke into its nostrils. Picasso stirred. Picasso screamed. A genius came to life. His first breath must have entered on a rush of smoke, searing to the throat, scorching to the lungs, and laced with the stimulants of nicotine. It is not unfair to say that the harsh spirit of tobacco is seldom absent from his work.

Hope someone enjoys the Russell story, and Mailer's description.

[cigcars]

Petrus, can you contact my insurance company? My life insurance went up $75 per due period because I HAVE to list myself as a smoker and I've just turned 55.