Hi folks.
I have a favor to ask.
I feel terrible having about it, because it’s a personal request.
But if you’ve appreciated the work that we’ve done at Smoke Signals over the last 20+ years, I really could use your help.
I’m humbly asking each of you who can afford it, to purchase a video download at Smoking Flicks.
(Feel free to purchase more if you’d like 
Here’s why. (And this email turned out to be rather long – so I apologize.)
The last 18 months have been very difficult. During that time I’ve undergone five surgeries.
The worst was last summer, when I was rushed in for emergency abdominal surgery.
Things were touch-and-go for a while, with sepsis (infection) throughout my body.
I was placed in a medically-induced coma and then had to spend weeks in the hospital,
recovering and receiving special IV antibiotics 24/7.
But I made it through.
After I recovered, I needed two followup surgeries.
The first went OK last winter.
The second surgery was scheduled for this spring – but it was delayed because pre-op testing showed another problem.
It turns out I have leukemia, too.
The cancer is now under control with treatment, and there’s a very good long-term prognosis.
And I’ve been cleared for the final surgery in September.
However, in a nutshell – I’m broke.
As you probably know, the smoking fetish business no longer makes much money for anyone.
Smoke Signals (and our other sites) barely break even.
But they mean way too much to me (and many members of the community) to give up on them. I essentially run them as a hobby.
That means I rely on my “real life” business to make a living.
And being unable to work full-time for the last 18 months has just about destroyed my “real” business.
Quite honestly, right now I can’t pay my bills – medical or personal.
Normally, I’d say “that’s the way it goes.”
I’d deal with bankruptcy, foreclosure, and whatever else…
…and start rebuilding my business after I recover from the final surgery.
However, I’m revealing all of this and asking for your help, because of my family.
I have a disabled wife and a 10-year old child with health issues.
Moving and rebuilding our life while I’m having surgery and recovering would be impossible for them.
And once I get over this last medical hurdle, I can work at getting things “back to normal.”
I’m not asking anyone for money. I would never do that. It’s not in my DNA.
In fact, just sending this email is difficult for me. I’m a very private person, as most of us are.
However – I’m hoping that some of you might be able to help me and my family out, by making a video purchase.
I know things are tight for many people.
But if some of you are in a position to buy a video download at Smoking Flicks…
the added revenue would help me make it through this difficult stretch and get back on my feet.
There are nearly 1500 full-length videos available for download at Smoking Flicks.
So chances are good that that there’s *something* there which you would enjoy, at a reasonable cost.
(If you find more than one title that interests you, please feel free to buy more than one )
I know this is asking a lot – and I really hate to do it.
If my back wasn’t against the wall, I wouldn’t.
But my sincere thanks and gratitude, for anything you can do to help.
And thanks for taking the time to read this.
Whether or not you’re able to help, your support over the last 20+ years truly means the world to me.
