THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, January 11, 1997            TAG: 9701110020
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   35 lines

EX-SMOKER IS ``FREE AT LAST''

January 1997 marks the fifth year that I have been without cigarettes.

I had smoked for more than 30 years. When I started the habit there were no warning labels. By the time the surgeon general warned that ``Smoking may be hazardous to your health,'' I was already addicted. It wasn't until I had totally removed the monkey from my back that I realized the powerful control that nicotine actually had over my life.

Now that I have reached my fifth year of freedom from nicotine addiction, I am comforted by the fact that the odds are in my favor of not bearing any repercussions from smoking. I was feeling optimistic about this when, suddenly, I experienced a disturbance with my vision that required medical attention. It was discovered that the visual abnormalities were residual effects of one of the two strokes that I had previously suffered while I was a smoker. I was fortunate that I did not have severe and permanent visual damage.

I know that I am lucky. If I hadn't changed my lifestyle when I did, there is a good chance I would not be here to write this today.

When I think back over the years when I was a smoker, I see a person that I do not like. Smokers used to rule things back then. We used to inflict our unhealthy habit on everyone around us.

I am very pleased to see the changes that have taken place to ensure smoke-free environments.

I challenge you to start your new year with a gift of a happier, healthier and fuller life. Reward yourself. Be free of your dependency. I am finally free at last.

RAYMOND HARTMAN

Virginia Beach, Jan. 3, 1997