Paulie, Paulie, He’s Quite Contrary

He is quite vain about how he looks, and he knows that smoking doesn’t do his physical self any good, yet he cannot stop from the habit. A month ago when he was down sick and I have to take care of him, he said he’s not going to smoke again ever. But when it subsided and he feels like his old self again, he forgot about his promise. He knows he comes from a family with weak lungs and/or tendency to lung diseases, and already had an uncle (or cousin, can’t remember which) die because of too much smoking. And yet, he still persists on smoking.

He often blames one thing or another for his persistent cough and shortness of breath, but not smoking. He even wondered if maybe he had mesothelioma because those two he’s experiencing are symptoms of the disease. But I’ve read that smoking does not cause this type of cancer, although it can alleviate it coupled with asbestos exposure. He even blames the pollution for his vasomotor rhinitis but no, he doesn’t think that smoking makes it worse. I am really beyond annoyed by this issue.