My name is Stephani. I am a 54 year old former smoker, only giving up cigarettes six months ago. I am a mother, grandmother and now a widow after being with my husband for over 30 years. I was with my husband longer than I was single; married at 20, widowed at 48. I have smoked cigarettes for the last 41 years. I grew up with a family that did not smoke cigarettes. My mother, father and younger sister did not smoke. Also, the paternal side of our family was very sports-oriented so smoking was not even discussed. How I started smoking at 13 was related to peer-pressure. Unfortunately I didnƒ??t decide to quit for another 41 years; and even my decision to quit was based on money and principle than the effects the smoking had on my health. My physician always told me that one day I would wake up and decide to quit. This decision would be mine and mine alone. The decision to quit came in the form of a stadium funding bill and the decision to add an exorbitant tax to cigarettes in our state. The price of cigarettes would go up an additional $5.00 per pack, to fund a stadium that I felt we did not need. This stadium would be used for a football team that sucks; and for players that earn millions of dollars each year. I could have accepted that cigarette tax if the money was being used for education or food. Around that time I attending a family gathering and my sister in-law, a smoker for over 40 years herself, asked if I wanted to try her e-cig? She and her husband, also a chain-smoker, had quit as soon as they began using the e-cigarette. I also knew, as soon as I tried her e-cig, that I finally found the mechanism that would get me off of those cursed cigarettes. The following day, my son and I (he also smoked cigarettes) drove to a local e-cigarette vendor and purchased what we needed. That was over six months ago. I haven’t returned to smoking since that day and I found that once I was equipped with my own e-cig, I had no desire for a regular cigarette. In my opinion, I found the mechanics and redundancy of smoking appealing. I now use a trace amount of nicotine in the e-cigarette liquid that I purchase. My next purchase will be to try the liquid with no nicotine in the formula. Iƒ??m sure I wonƒ??t have any problems giving up the nicotine. Since quitting cigarettes I’m saving money; my taste of food has returned. I also haven’t gained any weight. In fact I’ve lost weight. Since my taste has returned I have no desire to snack on junk food and found that I now only prefer fresh fruits and veggies.