I used to work as an online smoking cessation counsellor. I have no idea how Joni Mitchell perceives her smoking. But I came to know many smokers her age who curse themselves daily for doing it, several of whom are on oxygen, all of whom are on medication for respiratory disease. I also knew two who died in their early 50s as a direct result of it. So to stick one in her hand would be almost an assault, in my opinion, a reminder of something she started when she was very young and perhaps wants to, but can't, get rid of.
One of the ladies who died of smoking (through emphysema), at age 52, sent an email to her support group 2 days before she died. She knew she was dying. She asked them to write her name on a cigarette, to smoke it, enjoy it, and then to promise that was the last cigarette they would ever smoke. The day after she died, they all did exactly that, so she saved a few lives, though she lost her own. When you've encountered this kind of waste, you can't view smoking lightly.
But whether the statue smokes won't be up to me. That'll be up to the artist, maybe in consultation with Joni Mitchell herself, if that can be arranged.
Sarah
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:57:41 -0800
From: "Victor Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Beside Herself - statue of Joni
And I -- a non-smoker who regularly rants at my militant-smoker family and who teaches my nieces (ages 3 and 1) that cigarettes are "YECK" -- agree with Colin. Joni is Joni, cigarette and all. I also agree with Les that it's tacky, but Joni without a cig would be less authentic.
But does that mean that a statue of Jerry Garcia should have him shooting up heroin? Both habits are equally "YECK" IMO except one is accepted and driven by society and one is underground and illegal. It reminds me of the Simpsons episode in which Marge Simpson is asked to paint a portrait of Mr.Burns. His despicable behaviour really turns her off on the whole idea until she sees the fragile, vulnerable Mr. Burns in the bathroom accidentally but then finds her inspiration to paint him as she has seen him, underneath his hard and cruel desmeanor. Perhaps this statue could be approached the same way, and attempt to capture the Joni inside. I have no problem imagining Joni without a cigarette and wouldn't even ever think about the fact that she smokes except that it is brought up here so often. Actually, I can't think of anyone I know that I envision with a cigarette every time I think about them. I have never ever smoked a cigarette myself and so I have an easy time imagining a world without them. Victor in Asheville NP: Nick Drake "The Way to Blue"
