Ephrem Endale Contributer
By the way, just curious; what do the numbers say about smoking in this country? Yes, in many places smoking is prohibited and that could be one factor we think the habit is on the decline among the population. Well, it might be declining and it’d be good for all of us. But who are we to say in the absence of any relevant study to support our position! Now I’m not going into the preacher-mode trying to talk about the dangers of smoking. But, I know a couple of close former chain-smokers who practically ‘recycled’ themselves for the better once they stopped. We are getting closer to the days when smoking is talked about more than anytime of the year. The New Year, that’s it.
In case no one told you the Ethiopian New Year which comes after ‘thirteen months of sunshine’ is just twenty or so days down the road. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I like this “Thirteen months of sunshine,” which was the hallmark of our tourism for decades, and it made so much sense, too! It was unique in more ways than one. I wonder what really drove whoever decided to toss it out to take that extreme action!
So when I raise the smoking thing earlier I was trying to tell you one of the most common vows made come any New Year; It goes somewhat like, “Starting on New Year’s day I’ll stop smoking for good!” Of course that is not an easy vow to make, avid smokers would tell you. It takes some blood and guts and a few weeks of discomfort if one keeps to one’s vow. I’m not talking from experience before I never had one; but I had a couple of close friends some of them smokes as much as a full pack a day. They’re non-smokers now. And to stop smoking was one of the courageous decisions they ever made. Once they made it through those several weeks of practical torment there was no looking back. I’ve this friend who after years and years of smoking one day threw the butt of a cigarette he was smoking over the Ras Makonen Bridge and into the river. And I can tell you the next several days were real hard for him. But he made it through in one piece. In a way you feel sorry for such guys because vowing is something and going into actions a completely different thing.
No; as I’m not trying to tell anyone anything something “Unless you stop smoking now you can kiss three quarters of your lungs goodbye.” No way. I was trying to say that it seems you hear fewer and fewer vows made these days, about stopping smoking or things like that. On the eve of the New Year many also vow to keep their distance from the bottle and allow no liquid into their system except God’s free gift to mankind good, old water.
But then looking around these days you might feel like you’d be taken as a nerd or something for vowing to stop drinking. No. I’m not kidding!
“Come New Year and I’ll stop drinking.”
“What do you mean you’ll stop drinking?”
“Just what I said! I mean I’ll never take any alcohol even a small glass of beer.”
“I don’t blame you. You seem to enjoying all the modern things and yet you’re walking around with some brain that should have gone through some recycling. People no more vow to stop drinking, you moron! Drinking is no more a bad habit! The word is ‘recreation! So, don’t tell me you’d stop drinking.’” Really!
“Sorry, but I’ll tell you again I’m going to stop drinking.” Good luck! Of course if you mean what you’re saying you should also think what company you’d be keeping!
Look, maybe, just maybe the other guy talking about all the recreation thing might have a point or two. I’m not much of an evening guy. And If I had been one I don’t think I’d be an interesting company.
“Has this guy some mental problem?”
“Why do you ask that? Did he do anything wrong?”
“We have been here for almost two hours and he had spoken even one full sentence!”
But when friends tell me how the watering holes of the city are bursting with customers until the wee hours of the night I can’t help wondering about a couple of things. One is what are the reasons so many people from the old and weak-limbed to the strong and not-that-much-strong young people drawn to the bottle!
The other reason is the million dollar question most of us raise once in a while. Where the hell do those people get the money to drink day after day and week after week? Forget about those twelve-year, fifteen-year bottles the real hard stuff. if no one told how the price of beer has risen over the past year or so then you’ve no idea of what the this city is really made up of during the after-hours! Ours is not a very rich country and it’d be naive to claim, “People have much spare money and what do you want them to do with it! Make some paper toast out of it!” We are in economically trying times and many barely make it from one month to the other. So, many have a hundred and one emergencies to attend to before throwing away their money all over town. Hey, where the hell do you get that much money from!
When it comes to making New Year vows there are the dreamers. We think we are talking about plans and yet it wouldn’t take long before we realize we were just dreaming.
“Next year I’ll by myself a car.”
“Oh that’s wonderful. I’m happy to hear that. I just hope you’re serious about it.”
“I’ve never been more serious, I’m going to buy one of those four-wheel drives.”
“Oh you have already decided on the type?”
“Yes sir, next time we’ll welcome the New Year in another town in my car.”
I’ve to tell him to count me out!
Oh; and why should he do that?
The guy has to well his first imported pair of shoes. And where the hell do you think he will get the millions to buy a four-wheel toy of a car?
See! I’m a practical guy!
The Ethiopian Herald 21 August 2022