DEAR ABBY: My husband of 40 years is a smoker. I am not, but have learned to live with the smell, etc. Most of the time he smokes outside, except in winter, when he opens the bathroom window, smokes his cigarette, puts it out in the toilet and disposes of the butt in the trash can.
He has begun a new behavior that is really bothering me. When he wakes up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, he'll light up a cigarette, take a few puffs and then put it out and return to bed. When he gets back in our bed, he stinks! And he coughs and coughs.
I try not to nag him about his smoking, but I'd really like to bring this up. Any suggestions on how? -- IN A STINK IN ALASKA
DEAR IN A STINK: If your husband can't sleep through the night without smoking, it should be obvious to you that your husband is seriously addicted to nicotine. How sad for him. Suggest that he keep a pack of nicotine gum in the medicine cabinet and chew it rather than light up before he returns to bed. That may solve your problem.