Monday, January 10, 2011

I Finally Did It!!!




Hello friends....Yes, I finally did something I have wanted to do for at least 40 years. No..not quit smoking, I never could afford to buy cigarettes as a young girl and as I got older I could never justify the cost of that habit.

What I did do was this..

I was coming out of my local grocery store over the weekend and as I was crossing the walkway, I looked to my left and there she was.

A stately looking and brand new black BMW. As I got closer, the driver side window of the BMW began to roll down. For a minute I thought she was going to wave hello or something friendly like that.

But nooooooooooo...an elegant hand emerged from the window and at it's fingertips was a cigarette but.

Yup...you guessed it, she flicked that butt onto the road...THE ROAD!!!
The Road!!

I cannot tell you what a pet peeve this is of mine..makes my blood boil.


Lady, you must know that you have one of these handy little things in front of your shifter...it's called an ASHTRAY! You just gently push on that long panel and like magic an ashtray appears.

So time stood still for a moment and I decided to do what I have thought of doing for so long....I gingerly picked up the butt and went up to the BMW and said....

"Excuse me, but you seemed to have accidentally dropped something and I thought you might want it back." 

and I handed her her cigarette butt.

Did you guys know I was a (*^$^&@#$!(*&%^$#*&($%%#$:)..etc..etc

Me neither...my mother never told me and you guys have never mentioned it.

As you can tell, I'm not a smoker and this is by no means a condemnation of those who choose to smoke. It is just a plea to folks not to litter this beautiful planet we are so very lucky to call home. One little butt may seem like such a small thing, but all those small things add up to major littering problems.

So please lady in the BMW......


Ok...I'll get off my bandwagon now.

Until next time...be kind and stay creative.

Don't forget to enter my Giveaway! (here)











23 comments:

Anonymous said...

i'm proud of you Aunt Janet!!!! If she can smoke in her pretty BMW she can use the ashtray and dump it out else where like a trash can!!! It does not need to be thrown on the ground!!! Good for you!!!!!

Love,
Jessie!! :D

Gretel said...

Loud applause from over here, quite revolting behaviour! Well done Janet - I assume from the asterisks that she called you an angel? ;)

Kelly Ann said...

But I want the rest of the story...what did she say? and all I can say is...YOU GO GIRL...how many times I've wanted to do that...xoxo

Anonymous said...

Definitely something I would have wanted to do, too. I cannot stand smoking.

CJ xx

sweetpeabyjk said...

Hi, Janet! Haven't been by in a looong time. Hope all is well!

I LOVE what you did! You stayed controlled and made your point- love, love, love it. We should all be so direct!

Happy New Year from the Hudson Valley!

Aprons and More said...

Way to go!! Change starts with one step..thanks for stepping it up for us! 'Member that commercial back in the 70's... the American Indian with a tear running down his cheek? I think that commercial needs to be remade to remind the younger generation where litter ends up. It made an impression on me...I never wanted to make him cry. I have a litter bag in my car! Thanks for bringing this issue to the forefront! Everyone can make a difference!!

Katy :)

Marie said...

Oh my - I am still LOL when I think about seeing you do this. I agree with you about the insensitivity of others to force their habits on others. I feel that way about drivers who have their music on so loud it is inflicted on everyone.

Still - lol Hugs - Marie

Marion said...

Well done you!
Hopefully that "lady" will remember you next time she opens her window...and think twice about it.

Zenitude said...

I love it! My smoking collegues keep a tin container with a lid for their cigarette butts since their car (and mine) do not have ashtrays.
I would have loved to see this person's face when you handed them back their butt!

Jacquelyn Stager said...

yes, I want the rest of the story too. What happened??? As someone who is allergic to cigarette smoke - it makes me cough and gag, my eyes water and my chest hurts if I'm near it even for seconds...and my throat begins to close up and I think I'm dying...well, I just can't stand the dirty habit. But I do have compassion on people who are addicted but still, throwing the butts out like that is just plain irresponsible. Good for you!

Anonymous said...

I would have done the same thing, and I have. Here's my story about following a smoker who threw a butt out his window.

http://www.theblueridgegal.com/2009/02/youre-such-ash.html

Di

Tweed Thoughts said...

Hee Hee! :) Good for you Janet! xx

Atelier Conti said...

Bravo, Janet! Maybe Miss BMW will take a pause next time!

ArtAfterDark said...

There are lots of stoopid people driving a BMW! Thanks for scoring one for all of us who hate the litter! The world is not a trash can!

Sweet Birdy Love said...

Bravo Janet, absolutely fantastic. We all need to be that little bit braver and speak up. Whether it be cigarette butts or litter.
Shall keep that mental image in mind next time I see someone littering.
I can't stand thoughtless people.
Heres hoping she'll think twice next time....

The LadyBugs Garden said...

I love it..I have wanted to flip it right back end to the car or truck...you go girl. We all need to do this when we see someone litter their butts...lol

Kathleen Grace said...

Good for you! People dumping their butts out everywhere is a pet peeve of mine and I have often wanted to do just exactly what you did!

Laurie said...

awesome! way to go...may we all be so inclined to do such brave positive things!

koralee said...

Yahoooo for you my friend....

Tuesday hugs to you. xoxo

Soozcat said...

I love it! And congrats for having the fortitude to do what so many others have thought about doing for so long.

Like you, I don't have an axe to grind against smokers per se, but whenever I see a hand emerge from a window and fling a butt away I mutter, "Cockroach."

Jennifer Juniper said...

Oh. My. Gosh. You are my hero! This is my pet peeve also! My kids always say "Why do people throw these on the ground? Isn't that littering? Shouldn't they be arrested?"

You might have just given me the...ahem...balls to do the same the next time an opportunity arises! Love this!

Yellow House Knits said...

OMG! I LOVE this! It makes me *CRAZY* that people who smoke use the world as their personal ash trays. If I eat an apple and throw the core on the ground or drink a soda and throw the can out my car window, that's called littering. So why is there a blanket exemption for cigarette butts??? I've wanted to say something to people so many times. I'm so proud and impressed!

Jaybird said...

This is an awesome blog written by an amazing lady!!!!! I am so glad that I found you today!!
Three cheers for you!!