A Journey Through Time: My First Encounter with Chewing Tobacco

The year was 1976. America was wrapped in red, white, and blue, buzzing with the excitement of the bicentennial celebration. It was a hot summer. As a young boy gearing up for my sixth birthday that September, my life revolved around bikes, dirt trails, and endless adventures on our family’s farm. 

Our farm wasn’t just any farm. It was a large wholesale greenhouse operation with rows of vibrant plants. Additionally, there was a bustling shop area where the hum of daily chores blended with the scents of soil and growth. 

One afternoon, after an intense round of playing outside, I felt the pull of thirst and decided to raid the fridge in the shop area. As I approached the shop, I passed an old, repurposed Wolf’s Head oil barrel. 

Once filled with hydraulic fluid, it now served as the farm’s trash can. Something strange caught my eye on top of the heap: an odd-looking object that vaguely resembled a thick chocolate bar, though it had a bite taken out of it. 

Curiosity took over. I picked it up, puzzled, and called over to my older sister. “What’s this?” I asked. She gave me the classic older sibling look—equal parts amusement and irritation—and replied with her seasoned seven-year-old wisdom: “That’s chewing tobacco.” 

Until then, I’d only heard of chewing tobacco. I’d seen it in Westerns or on Bugs Bunny cartoons when he played a cowboy, but never in real life. I remember thinking how strange and mysterious it seemed. How did someone even use it? Back then, everyone older than twelve seemed to smoke cigarettes, but chew? That was something different, something I didn’t fully understand.

An Encounter in High School

The curiosity faded as I grew older, though chewing tobacco popped up occasionally in conversations or magazine ads. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school in 1987 that I had my first up-close encounter with its effects. 

That fall, I traveled with my Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter to the Kansas City, Missouri national convention. I remember the trip vividly. One evening, after listening to Vice President George H.W. Bush speak, my group gathered in the lobby of the Hyatt Hotel. We were chatting with members of the Hiko, Nevada chapter when someone offered one of their members a pinch of chewing tobacco. 

I watched as the boy hesitated but eventually accepted. Within minutes, he turned pale, complained of his head spinning, and looked visibly ill. I remember thinking, “Wow, that doesn’t look like a good time.”

College: The Moment Curiosity Turned into Addiction

Fast forward again to my freshman year at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Life was different—dorms, late-night study sessions, and Saturday football games. One weekend, a neighbor in my dorm invited a group to watch football. The little cans of tobacco appeared, and one by one, people took pinches. 

When it was offered to me, I didn’t think twice. I took a dip, curious and eager to try something new. That moment marked the beginning of a 25-plus-year addiction to nicotine and tobacco.

Reflection: From Curiosity to Breaking Free

Looking back, it’s startling how an innocent moment of curiosity as a child and a casual experiment as a young adult shaped decades of my life. My story isn’t unique; many people find themselves drawn into habits they never expected to form. 

For me, quitting was a long and challenging road but also a transformative one. This journey has inspired me to share my story and help others navigate their struggles with tobacco and nicotine. Whether you’re trying to quit or helping someone you care about, know that change is possible.

Stay tuned for more reflections, tips, and stories on breaking free from nicotine, stopping chewing tobacco, and building a healthier life.