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Thursday, June 14, 2007 by Dave Winer.

Five years ago today: "Lots of non-Internet stuff going on." 

That was an understatement.  

I choose to remember 6/14/02 as the day I had my last cigarette. On my way to the doctor's office I bought two packs of Marlboro Lights. I smoked one on the way to the appointment. That was the last cigarette.  

It was a Friday. I would spend Saturday and Sunday in the hospital, and on Monday I had heart surgery. A life-changing event, for sure. A life-saving event too. 

Over the years I've written lots about it. As my body recovered from the surgery little victories seemed pretty big. First, a walk down the driveway. Then a five minute walk down Manzanita Way. Then ten minutes, then twenty. My first trip to the city. Dancing with a 6-foot cigarette in my dreams. And on and on.  

I think today is a big milestone in that I didn't remember to look at the calendar until 2PM, and I had to go back to the archive page to be sure I had the day right. I am so not a smoker that I didn't even remember to mark the day until well past lunch. 

I owe a lot of gratitude to people who helped me get through the toughest part of the recovery.  

And I thank Murphy for letting me live another five years. Whew. Think I'll go walk in the hills.  

Today's song: Respect Yourself.