Hello to all. I've been lurking the forum for the past couple of days and decided to join today. My last dip was Sunday evening, December 6 and I am not looking back!
I am 34 years old, married to my high school sweetheart and have a beautiful 14 month old daughter. At the age of 16, I stole my first can of dad's Copenhagen out of the fridge and haven't looked back since then. In the high school days, we chewed non-stop, after football, hockey and golf practice, driving in our trucks, partying with the boys, in art class, shop class and anywhere in between! I chewed Kodiak, Skoal, Cope, Rooster, Red Seal, Red Man, you name it!!
Heading off to college, the dipping never quit! I learned the fine art of gutting chew with a beverage....yay, something to be freaking proud of! After college, I always thought I'd quit but at each of the 3 jobs that I've held since then, I could either chew openly or easily hide it.
I've always had that thought in the back of my head that I'll quit tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, etc. I thought with the approach of my first child I would quit, but didn't. Every fall, bowhunting season comes and I tell myself, you'll quit after it's over and never do. My current job strictly forbids tobacco on the premises. I switched to chewing pouches while in the building, hiding the can in my sock all day long. PATHETIC!
Once and for all I am sick of being a slave to the can. Last Thursday, my father called me and told me he had just left the dentist. He was having some pain in his molars. The dentist, who my dad has known for a long time being from a small town, looked at him and said "you need to make sure that the last dip you had was your last one. Things aren't looking so great for you in your mouth." My father, who has chewed since he was 18 years old and is now 58, threw his freshly opened can in the garbage walking out of the dentist's office and hasn't had a dip in 6 days. If the old man can do it, I want to be right along side him in his journey.
Day one was easy, day 2 was horrific, today seems much better. At the rate I'm eating, I'll probably be up 100 pounds a week from now. I look forward to joining the KTC ranks. I truly believe I will never put that nasty turd in my mouth again, but there will be times when I am weak and may need the help of KTC. Thanks much! brunwardo