A handsome, middle-aged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down.
Before he ordered, he couldn't help but notice a group of younger men
at the table next to him. It was obvious they were making fun of something
about him, and it wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink
ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was
all about. The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks
began to get to him. He looked one of the rude men square in the eye,
placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically, "This?"
With that the men all began to laugh out loud. The man he addressed
said, as he fought back laughter, "Hey, sorry man, but we were just
commenting on how pretty your little ribbon looks against your blue jacket!"
The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his
table, and invited him to sit down. As uncomfortable as he was, the guy
obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said, "I
wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my
mother's honor."
"Oh, sorry dude. She died of breast cancer?"
"No, she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as
an infant, and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared
or lonely as a little boy. I'm very grateful for my mother's breasts, and
her health."
"Umm", the stranger replied,"yeah".
"And I wear this ribbon to honor my wife", the middle aged man went
on.
"And she's okay, too?", the other guy asked.
"Oh, yes. She's fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure
for both of us, and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter
23 years ago. I am grateful for my wife's breasts, and for her health."
"Uh huh. And I guess you wear it to honor your daughter, also?"
"No. It's too late to honor my daughter by wearing it now. My daughter died
of breast cancer one month ago. She thought she was too young to have
breast cancer, so when she accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored it.
She thought that since it wasn't painful, it must not be anything to worry about."
Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, "Oh, man, I'm so sorry mister".
"So, in my daughter's memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows
me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to your wife and
your daughters, your mother and your friends. And here . . ." The middle-aged man
reached in his pocket and handed the other man a little pink ribbon.
The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, "Can ya help me put it on?"
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
This is breast cancer awareness month. Do regular breast self-exams and have
annual mammograms if you are a woman over the age of 40. And encourage
those women you love to do the same. Please send this on to anyone you would
like to remind of the importance of breast cancer awareness.
This one I do ask that you send on.
