[rdb3]

My grandfather started smoking at 12 years of age, and died of 'old age' at 78yrs!!

I hear ya. I think back to my grand-uncles in Wheatley, Arkansas. I had 4 that I knew personally. Each smoked Winston and/or Lucky Strikes (yeah, the unfiltered kind) since their teen years. Neither one ever stopped smoking until his dying day.

Each lived past the age of 95.

[potlatch]

Actually, my grandfather was in his 80's, I mis-typed that! I'm getting so sick of the liberals and 'goody-goodys' trying to control our lives now that I could scream!!

My grandparents [and parents] grew up eating all the eggs, bacon, fatty foods, lard, and real butter. They All lived into their 80's.

Three of them smoked all that time too, and all us kids were healthy. No asthma, and fewer colds and sickness than my grandkids have today!!!

[dfwgator]

Each lived past the age of 95.

I am sure genetics play a role, in that smoking won't affect some while in others it definately will cut the life span. The question is, do you know which type of genes you have? Do you want to take that gamble?