Driven Women

Smoked out

Dear GG,
I can’t stand it. My wife is a smoker; I’m not. We’re in a confined space and she closes the window when she smokes. Last night I woke up choking from her smoke. Smoking’s an ugly, disgusting, gross, sick, expensive, bad habit. I’m half tempted to tell her she either needs to quit or get out of the truck. Am I being a @#%*&?
Gerry D., Michigan    

Gerry,
You are certainly not being a @#%*&, but you are being stupid. That smoke is eating away at your lungs, too, not just hers. I’m all for the ultimatum; just be prepared for the potential outcomes:
•     She quits and life is good.
•     She quits, she’s a miserable @#%*& and life is intolerable.
•     She smokes outside the truck, which means the truck must stop every hour, and you get nowhere fast.
• She smokes only on her shift, the truck stops every couple of hours, adding four hours to each day.
•     She continues to smoke, stops running with you, and you drive solo.
     She may find another partner or get off the road.
•     The worst-case scenario: she quits smoking, then suffocates you in your sleep.
     So what’s it going to be?
     Cheers,
     GG

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You can e-mail Golden Girl at goldengirl@otrprotrucker.com or mail your letter to Over the Road magazine, P.O. Box 549, Roswell, GA 30077-0549.