[August 20, 2026] Traveling in our car was an adventure for us kids. It was a rare treat, but there was a problem. My Dad was a smoker. He eventually gave up smoking after his quadruple bypass (I was in college by that time); his heart had taken a beating from that unhealthy habit. But us kids also took some of the brunt.
All the kids were in the backseat. My sister was relegated to the center, an uncomfortable position because it was hard. Cars in those days had a crank shaft running down the center and the back seat had less padding at that point. For my brother and I, we fought over which side to sit on. I chose the back right, behind my Mom in the front passenger seat, and for good reason.
It happened more often than it should have, but when my Dad finished a cigarette, he would toss it out the driver’s window. Sometimes the still-smoldering cigarette butt would fly back into the back seat. If you were behind him, your speed dodging the sparks and ash, and keeping your mouth shut, determined your status as a good kid.
There was a problem with the rear right position for me. If Dad got mad at my whining or acting up, it was easy to reach back to give me a swat upside the head. He couldn’t reach directly behind him; so my brother was safe (at least until we arrived at our destination). If we were really bad, you knew it. The car slowed down fast and Dad got out of the car. You knew what was next.
I find it odd that such memories have come back to me. Yesterday, I spent an hour with a half dozen older military Veterans. They grew up in the 1930s and 40s, and wow, did they have some stories to tell. If you ever want to get a new perspective on life, then talk with an older Vet and listen closely; for that is how you will get a chance to “feel” what they saw and did.
I’ve written a series on growing up in the 1950s and 60s in the South which can be found here (see link, Letters to My Granddaughter) that lays out my memories of those wonderful days. Life then was great to me, and those of my age, because there was always an adventure waiting. And, going somewhere in a car was something rare and wonderful (despite the smoke).
Mom was always trying to talk Dad into giving up smoking, but without success. At home, I was the one that would hide his packs of cigarettes or put a novelty cigarette load (or “bang load”) causing him distress. My efforts failed. Dad knew it was me. I have no idea where I got those prank devices but it was another adventure when Dad got mad.
My grandpaw Satterfield was a big smoker too. He smoked unfiltered Camels (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco). Miraculously, these can still be purchased in the U.S.; I don’t know about elsewhere in the world. He lived to be 93, his wife lived to 99. The smoke from grandpaw’s Camels was strong, but he was relaxed while he smoked in his old comfortable, cloth-covered chair.
Interestingly, as the oldest kid in my family, I never smoked but both my brother and older sister smoke to this day.
CREDIT: Thumbnail by GettyImages, George Marks
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Very nice article. We all know young and old people who smoke, mostly older because they grew up when it wasn’t known to have negative impacts on your health and lifestyle. Who wants to kiss a woman who has an ash mouth …. Yuck. 🤮
Hey Gen. Satterfield, great story about your dad. Indeed, those were the days where smoking a cigarette (less so a cigar) was the epitome of “coolness.” You were a smoker, then you were like the movie actors who were the heroes, the man who all the women swooned over, and the smartest and most handsome man in the room. Smoking was it!!! And you could do anything. But then, in the 1960s, it started coming out that smoking was very harmful to your health and the campaign against smoking began (and it was fairly effective). But now, young people are again encouraged to smoke but we call it a vape, and supposedly for “health reasons.” That is all bunk. Kids, don’t smoke, period.
Nasty habit, but I understand addiction and that what so many drugs (regardless of being socially acceptable) does to you. Don’t start, important lesson. But, 10% of us humans will nevertheless fall into the trap.
Just like Forrest Gump said, “Stupid is, as stupid does.”
Yeah, I get it, as plenty of us Baby Boomers had parents that smoked. It was the “cool” thing to do. All the tv and movie actors smoked cigarettes. They were what people thought was the pinnacle of life. But that turned out false. We know better today, smoking is not good for us.