Isaac's anniversary & my quit day (patch)

Very few things can compare to walking your daughter down the aisle and performing her wedding ceremony, but Isaac & Ricci's wedding weekend at Story, IN was one of the best times I've ever had in my life too. Yesterday was their first anniversary. It brought back so many good memories. And I can never get enough of this video put together by their friend Drew Beaty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vF3pEU3Tcw




Yesterday was also my "Quit Day." I started using the PATCH to help me try to quit smoking. I feel like the biggest idiot in the world for starting again after I had quit some 25 years ago. It was just another consequence of a tough year last year. Certainly not the end of my life or anything. I can still remember that first one a year ago August. I'd always had nightmares that I had one cigarette, and that was it - I was hooked again. And it happened.

So, I started on the Meijer brand 'Step 1 Nicotine Transdermal System Patch.' I am to wear one of these a day for 14 days, and then hopefully move to step 2. I also bought some 2mg nicotine gum. Nephew Dr. Tim said that some new studies have shown that gum, along with the patch, can have much better results than either alone. I will only use the gum if I have to though, because I don't want to OD on nicotine (seriously). I definitely recommend reading all the instructions before starting.

After the first day it seemed to go okay. Although Sunday's are usually an easy day to go without anyway. Today - going back to work - will be the real test. The only issue I had so far was with the dreaming. It says I can take it off at night if I have "vivid dreams." Man, did I ever. I had the wildest, full-color dreams I can ever remember. None of them were necessarily bad, but just crazy. I actually KNEW I was dreaming, and I don't remember ever noticing the colors so much. At one point, when I realized I was dreaming, I tried to determine what I would dream about. I don't recall now if it worked or not. But I think I will take the patch off to sleep from now on.

Otherwise, I am hoping this goes well. I feel pretty good about it. I need to make a list of all the reasons I want to quit. Perhaps I will post it tomorrow. I would still appreciate any prayers or good thoughts for those of you who are into such things. Thank you in advance.