Smoke-Free Groundhogs

Four things happened on February 2, 1998:

1. Both Willie and Phil saw their shadows.
2. I woke with a feeling of dread.
3. I headed for the gym for my first workout.
4. I slapped on an anti-smoking patch after my workout.

Winter lasted another six weeks.

The feeling of dread lasted for a few months.

The gym lasted for about a year.

The smoking cessation lasted for 11 years -- and counting.