We live in an area right near a huge high school – we often drive by just as classes are letting out for the day. Huge groups of students are hanging out in front of the school, or walking in droves down the street. But instead of reaching for their packs of cigarettes as soon as they cross the barrier into freedom – they all reach….for their cell phones. Not a cigarette to be seen, anyway, among hundreds and hundreds of teenagers.
This weekend we were driving down the street, and several times saw groups of teens who clearly were out to “be out” – to walk around and be seen. Their attitude, their “outfits,” everything about them, screamed “we’re out here to show that we’re cool.” You can guess the one thing that wasn’t in evidence.
And at times, when we see this sort of thing, we can’t help but picture the exact same scenes taking place 30 years ago.
And we can’t help but wonder — how much in evidence cigarettes would be in those imaginary scenes.
Do you ever wonder, too?