HEART BEAT: Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

By Felicia Mitchell

Christmas came early for me this year, 24 days early.  As merry as I am, though, there are a few out there who are not.  In fact, some would consider the new law banning smoking in restaurants in Virginia as mean as the Grinch that stole Christmas.

Look on the bright side.  It doesn’t ban smoking completely.  It just requires restaurants to provide a separate space, indoors or out, for smokers.  Equipping a special room indoors with ventilation could be costly, so some restaurants will opt for a full ban.  Others are going the extra mile to keep their smokers happy.

Not to celebrate the last Friday evening smoking would be allowed around here, but to show a visiting relative some local color, I spent time in a room of smokers.  While my relative soaked up the atmosphere, smoking along with other smokers, I soaked up the cigarette smoke for about an hour before I gave up on the atmosphere.

Why did I break my own personal ban on entering restaurants that allow smoking?  You could say I was stupid.  You could say I got caught up in the moment.  Whatever.  While my club soda with lemon did not give me a hangover, I woke up with such pains in my lungs that I had to break out the inhaler.

Asthma is awful.  But people with asthma are not the only ones who should be thankful that the new law will make life more bearable.  Think about all the health risks that have been touted for decades.  In fact, a ban on smoking can do nothing but help even if it gets on some people’s nerves.

Even so, some people are not as cheerful as I.  They don’t want the government interfering with human rights.  The truth is, though, that people may still smoke.  They will just have fewer opportunities to hurt others with their smoking with the new system. 

We all know that separate smoking sections just didn’t work.  Smoke travels.  Just a few years ago, I ventured into another local establishment, where I enjoyed a meal, sort of, without too much smoke infringing on my own human rights.  Then I wanted to powder my nose, which meant that I would have to walk through a smoke-filled room to the restroom. 

I wrote one more letter.  Why not?  I have complained for years.  Blame people like me for lung-friendly restaurants.

True, I don’t know what it feels like to breathe tobacco, including second-hand tobacco, with healthy lungs.  Maybe if I hadn’t grown up in a house with second-hand smoke, I’d know.  I do know what respect for others feels like. 

I once had a close friend who was a chain-smoker.  His smoking never interfered with our relationship, which lasted until smoking killed him.  I have many other friends and relatives who smoke cigarettes, and they are always courteous.

If Virginia law requires smokers to be courteous now, it’s because not enough of them knew how to be without prodding.