I keep hearing this argument about how smoking is a personal health choice and a personâ??s right.

It“s hard to talk when you“re trying to hold your breath, but I do it anyway.

“Have a nice day,” I gasp with a forced smile, all the while feeling as though I might pass out.

“Thanks,” the customer mutters, avoiding eye contact.

With one last puff of smoke carelessly blown in my direction, he is gone. I sigh with relief.

Let me explain this all-too common scenario. I work at a gas station “ a smoky gas station. The smell of cigarette smoke gives me a headache and makes my eyes burn.

You“re probably thinking I should just get a job somewhere else, right? The problem is that there are not a lot of jobs that are flexible enough for the schedule of a single mom and full-time college student.

Perhaps I still can“t turn to you for sympathy. I know I can“t turn to my coworkers, all but a few of whom smoke like chimneys.

Every time a healthy work environment commercial or anti-big tobacco commercial comes on the radio, one of my coworkers whines about how stupid these commercials are.

“I can“t stand the people on these commercials. If you don“t like smoke, don“t work in a bar. You know what you“re getting yourself into,” she says in her soon-to-be-raspy voice. (She“s only 18; give it time.)

“What if you can“t get another job?” I ask her. She informs me that anyone who can only get a job in a bar is a major loser. I guess major losers deserve to die of lung cancer.

I point out to her that we work in a gas station, not a bar, and that this is the best job for my current schedule. She shuts up for a while, but I know I haven“t changed her mind. In fact, we“ll probably have the exact same conversation next week.

This has been my experience talking to many smokers. They just don“t really seem to understand where I“m coming from.

I keep hearing this argument about how smoking is a personal health choice and a person“s right. I understand that argument. What I don“t understand is how that argument translates to blowing smoke in my face while I“m working.

It“s hard to think of a proper analogy for this sort of behavior, but let me try.

I really love chocolate. Let“s say that, because it is my right to enjoy chocolate pretty much wherever I please, I decide to share that enjoyment with everyone around me. I take some chocolate syrup out into a public place and start pouring it down people“s throats, all over their clothes and in their hair.

Now, some of them might be allergic to chocolate, some of them might not want to smell like chocolate, and some of them just might not be in the mood for chocolate, but who cares? It“s great stuff! They should go somewhere else if they don“t like it, right?

Of course I understand that this is not exactly the same as smoking. While chocolate in large amounts is probably not that healthy for you, it“s nowhere near as detrimental as cigarette smoke.

Nonetheless, just keep this in mind: If you ever come into the gas station where I work and consider blowing smoke in my face, you better watch out. I keep a one-gallon container of chocolate syrup under the counter for protection.

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