Chapters 13-16 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 13, "Diary of a Smoker," is the first piece in the Essays section. Sedaris was a long time smoker, as was his mother, Sharon. Sharon Sedaris was never without a cigarette in hand, and even after being diagnosed with cancer, Sharon never quit smoking. Sedaris jokes that on Christmas, the Sedaris children would often play, "Find Mom, Find Mom's Cigarettes." According to the author ,every single picture ever taken of his mother showed a cigarette, no matter the activity. Even after Sharon was diagnosed with cancer, it never occurred to anyone in the family that she might actually quit. There was no judgment, as Sedaris believes that each person has the right to choose his or her quality of life. Sharon was always fond of saying, "Sooner or later, something's going to get you."

After the EPA report on...