I had this interesting conversation with my boss/coworker as I was leaving my shift & they were beginning theirs. Not really too interesting from the outside perspective, though, interesting if you’re wanting to figure out … at least part of the thought process in my decision making.
So, I was kinda joking about how Sheetz has been a bad influence on me, especially with my smoking habits. I’ve always smoked a ton of weed, though since I’ve started working at sheetz, I’ve really picked up the tobacco side of things.
A little aside, I’ve always urged others not to smoke cigarettes since the legality of them made it super easy to fall into their trap. I followed my advice for the longest time, though somewhere in between then & now, I still somehow feel into Big Tobacco’s trap…
Anywho, back to the story.
The reason why i joke and say Sheetz is at fault is because, working behind the counter, becoming familiar with all the different brands, styles, and flavors, learning the homes of where all the products belong, both in the store and the people who buy them…
That familiarity of working so close with something I’ve been, not necessarily trying to avoid, though trying not to associate with. Being forced to form some sort of connection to this substance made it easier to start buying it for my self, especially when the only witnesses at 3AM are coworkers who already partake in the same “taboos”…
Though, let’s get to the actual story. Less of a dissection of who i am, and just an observation of just …me.
Even when I was avoiding cigarettes, I still bought a pack every so often. Like months apart. I didn’t really smoke them, just mixed the tobacco with weed. I still do that, mostly. I only smoke a cigarette when I need a quick 5 minute break at work and want an excuse outside. If I’m gonna smoke tobacco by itself, I want a flavored cigarollo/cigar; something that tastes good and I can take 10-15 minutes of my lunch break just chillin’…
Anyways, back from the tangent
Before buying tobacco products became kinda like a game to me, where it’s not that I’m buying specific products for “me”, like i have my preferences, though often times I make my choice on novelty; I wanna try out the whole wall eventually.
So, before that when I’d buy a box here or there, I’m gonna mention what might have been the first time I bought cigarettes for myself, and the real…well, one of the reasons I buy American Spirits.
The 1st box I remember buying is the classic “Marlboro Reds.” Thank Nascar & Nintendo for that #AdvertisingWorks
Anyways, I was super nervous buying it. Even though I was in my 20s by this point, I felt like a kid trying to buy beer with a fake ID from Hawaii. To add on top of that, I have a slight speech impediment which gets significantly worse when I’m nervous.
Let’s just say, I can’t pronounce “Marlboro
♡Sugar☆World☮ 