I have quit about 3 major times, once for almost two years and then again for about 3 months. This is my last quit. I can not fail this time. Below I am posting my HoF speech for a couple reasons. First this is my old speech from first time on the site to prove you can never have just one. I am not trying to post a speech before it is time. I have not earned that right...YET. Second I am posting this as a way to find it easier for me so it can be a reminder that failure is not a option...
HOF speech, before my cave.
My love affair with smokeless tobacco begins at the age of 17, which just happens to be 13 years ago. I went on a camping trip with some high school friends and one of the guys just happened to have a can of Skoal with him. Everyone took a dip that night, but for me that was my first time. Looking back I wished I would have gotten sick and puked my guts out for three days so my dipping career would have lasted only one day. Unfortunately I did not get sick and instantly fell in love with tobacco. I started off dipping occasionally on the weekends during the rest of my senior year. The summer before I went to college I started dipping on a daily basis. My step dad who was a Levi Garret chewer tried to warn me about the addiction I was getting into. Hell I was 18 and knew everything so I did not listen. When I started college I joined a fraternity which was made up by a group of guys who came from farming and ranching backgrounds. So you guessed it. Dipping was nearly a prerequisite for fitting into the crowd. I dipped for nearly 3 years until my wife, who I hid dipping from, caught me. I promised her I would quit and I did for nearly two years. I gave up my first quit when a business trip took me out of town for a week. I bought a can a dipped for a week. When returning home I threw the can away and went another 3 months tobacco free. A second business trip took me out of town again. I bought another can a dipped while on this trip also. But the difference is this time I hid the can when I got home. I slipped around dipping at work, on weekends, and every chance I could for the next 6 years living as a closet dipper. I finally decided enough is enough. I was tired of the lying, stealing, and hiding my addiction. But instead of coming out of the closet and dip openly I decided to quit. I quit with the help of this website and all of the great members of the July Fucktards. The July group made it possible by giving me the support that my family could not. My wife has never even smoked a cigarette so had no idea the effects of withdrawals. My wife did not know I quit because she did not know I started back dipping. I finally confessed my addiction to her when I discovered my mouth was not healing up normally. Three doctor visits later and a trip to an Ear Nose Throat Specialist I discovered I had a patch of Luekoplakia. I am thrilled to report that as I enter the Hall of Fame that my mouth has finally healed, but it has taken nearly three months. The ENT told me another year or two of dipping and it would have been too late to reverse the effects of dipping. I feel like I owe my life to this website and to Matt.
Thanks for all you have done.
Today I am now on day 19 clean. It feels great to be back on the road to a dip free life.
