My grandma's favorite actor is Paul Newman. Old Blue Eyes, she'd say when we talked about movies, and gaze dreamily into space. Newman passed away over the weekend at age 83, and my grandma's own blue eyes misted up when heard the news. Mine did, too. Newman, (above, left) an Oscar winner, philanthropist and organic food pioneer, had a long and rich life. He raced cars, continued acting into his 80s and lived a fairly quiet existence on the East Coast with his longtime wife, actress Joanne Woodward. He had long given up the fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle and reportedly quit smoking about 30 years ago. Still, lung cancer claimed his life. "[S]topping does help curb damage to your lungs as the years pass, the chance of getting lung cancer is never completely gone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung cancer kills more Americans each year than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. Newman's passing can be a lesson to us all, but it won't become a lecture here. For more information on how smoking negatively affects your health, click here. If you or someone you know is trying to quit, please visit the American Lung Association's website. And if you're looking for others to offer support you while you quit smoking, click here. |
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