Too Much Pink?
I am starting to feel that way about Pink and Pink ribbon paraphenalia! I have some pink pins, and some things which show my BC support and survivorship. I love the Brighton bracelets, for example. It seems though that to my friends I am now solely identified by the Breast Cancer merchandise they buy for me. I have mugs, T-shirts, hats, pins, stationary, bumper sticker, the list is endless. I am truly not ungrateful! I am soo happy to be alive and to have friends and support. But...... I am not always thrilled that cancer is all they see when they see me! And I don't love every gift and certainly don't want to have a shrine to BC, as it were.
Feel free to re-align my thought pattern; even I can see that this sounds pretty whiney! But I am finding it more and more difficult to open a surprise gift, and not have my face show the "Oh no! Not another Pink Ribbon".
I'm ready, Sisters, straighten me out!
Hugs,
Claudia
Comments
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I'm just waiting for the bombardment of pink stuff this Christmas & birthday as this is my 1st yr of BC. I have purchased a few pink ribbon things myself - thebreastcancersite.org had some great sales on gloves/hats/vests that were simple. I did order a shirt from fordcares.com - it is brown w/their warrior symbol on the front and mustang logo (we have 2) on the back - so not PR.
I did thank a woman in Costco for wearing a "save the tatas" shirt - I don't think I could wear it unless it said "save my other ta"!
OH - don't forget the wear/display the PR stuff when the gifter is w/ you!!!!! Like all those knitted hats your granny made you!!
Amy0 -
I cracked up when I read this. I was diagnosed in October 2003 during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Talk about being bombarded with pink every where I went - especially in my mailbox!
All of the sudden, people who claimed to know me well started sending me pink hats, t-shirts, bracelets, pins, a pink box of GRAPEFRUIT tea (which is disgusting by the way), bumper stickers, christmas ornaments, and purses. I thought to myself, "Do these people honestly think that just because I've been diagnosed with BC that I'm going to start dressing myself from head to toe in BC paraphanalia, decorate my house and adorn my car in pink because I have this overwhelming need to let peoople know that I support BC research?" Like my big, bald head wasn't a big enough indication that I'd REALLY appreciate a cure!
Yes, people mean well. They want to show you that they support you. And you understand and appreciate that. But stop the madness! I finally came out and told them to stop. I suggested instead that they could make a donation if they liked and maybe call me once in a while to talk (I lived alone at the time and at times felt a bit alienated). I must admit that it used to hurt my feelings when I'd get a pink package in the mail from a friend or was told that they did the Walk for the Cure, but yet they hadn't called me in months.
Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful for all the marketing BC gets and, as a result, the $ towards research, but getting all that pink left me at a loss on whether these people really knew me at all. I guess some people just don't know how to act around us or how to show us in different --less pink-- ways that they care!
Yes, I'm a horrible person. I admit it! Throw rocks at me! Just don't throw pink rocks at me!
Hugs & Kisses to all,
Kim0 -
I work in a womens center. They are putting up a xmas tree and decorating it with..none other than pink ribbons and paraphenalia...they called to ask me today if i realized october is bc awareness month..I said hell yeah..i'm well aware of breast cancer this month...lol0
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No worries. We can have a big box of everything you'll need to embark on your BC adventure in no time. Oh -- and the Grapefruit Tea is to DIE FOR!babs49242 said:Boy,do I feel Neglected! hahahaha
I didn't get ANY pink and still don't. Instead I get Snowmen! (love the guys tho so no hard feelings about them) go figure
LOL,
Kim0 -
chenheart, Finally someone else thinks like me!!!!! LOL
I detest pink ribbons now, everyone that visits me brings some form of "pink ribbon" thing, for my house, bedroom, to pin on me, strap to me, put on my car........ENOUGH already, the banks here are covered in it.......teddy bears, socks, T-shirts....sometimes I just want to 'forget' for awhile what it's all about, let THEM wear the "pink" ......and I am opening a cancer support group to boot, go figure!!! HAHAHA
But I hear you, enough of a good thing, maybe they will come out with some "blue" ribbon things! nice change!!!!!!!! I don't wear anything pink nor have I ever, and ribbons, well to me they just advertise my prosthesis....sigh0 -
PS....our Zellers stores here in Ontario just opened a whole section of PINK things....from A-Z it's pink, my stomach turned when I seen it. Pink is for Pepto Bismo....I see it as a marketing tool now a way for stores to 'cash in' on the breast cancer theme. I would rather hit the tool section than all that pinky stuff....mercy0
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Well I have to agree with Melaniesmom this is also my first year so I have bought some pink stuff from the breastcancersite.com. I think anything we can do to help in the research we need to do that way other women like us don't have to go through this.Melaniesmom said:I'm just waiting for the bombardment of pink stuff this Christmas & birthday as this is my 1st yr of BC. I have purchased a few pink ribbon things myself - thebreastcancersite.org had some great sales on gloves/hats/vests that were simple. I did order a shirt from fordcares.com - it is brown w/their warrior symbol on the front and mustang logo (we have 2) on the back - so not PR.
I did thank a woman in Costco for wearing a "save the tatas" shirt - I don't think I could wear it unless it said "save my other ta"!
OH - don't forget the wear/display the PR stuff when the gifter is w/ you!!!!! Like all those knitted hats your granny made you!!
Amy0 -
Claudia,
I'm with you all the way! Pink now drives me crazy. But, I also recognize that for a lot of people it's the only way to show support, so I accept the gifts with gratitude. It's my one year aniversary from the day I was diagnosed (10/9) and I'm glad to be here.
I'm more bothered by all of the merchants who wrap their goods in pink - for a lot of the companies that promote that a portion of the funds go to breast cancer - its a very small percentage and I feel like those companies trivialize breast cancer by making it a marketing tool. Today I was waiting for my sister in a store and saw the display of printer paper wrapped in pink with the BC logo. Enough!
Sheilah0 -
I remember my reaction to being told I had breast cancer...."The thing that bothers me the most is that I HATE pink and I look TERRIBLE wearing it!!!"
That said, I do participate in Komen, so I get all the T-Shirts in pink I will ever, ever need. And, since my new hair came in black and silver, light pink doesn't look horrible....
I remember how frightened I was during my treatment...and to see a gal wearing a pink breast cancer pin gave me hope and the courage to fight...
Hugs, kathi0 -
Chen Chen Chen....I feel your heart. Save all that pink junk in a big box. When you hear of someone diagnosed, send it to THEM! Regift it LOL!KathiM said:I remember my reaction to being told I had breast cancer...."The thing that bothers me the most is that I HATE pink and I look TERRIBLE wearing it!!!"
That said, I do participate in Komen, so I get all the T-Shirts in pink I will ever, ever need. And, since my new hair came in black and silver, light pink doesn't look horrible....
I remember how frightened I was during my treatment...and to see a gal wearing a pink breast cancer pin gave me hope and the courage to fight...
Hugs, kathi
Seriously I know exactly how it is. Oct. is my 6 yr anniv of survival and I have not worn one of my pins...I just don't want to this year. But I must say I would NOT reject one of those cool new BC mustangs. ;-)
I always buy the Brighton bc bracelets and give one to my mom- she LOVES it, plus I auction 1 off at my Rotary club each fall. It's weird, but the longer I am a survivor, I'm filling my life with other things, not just being identified as the breast cancer lady. I think that's a good thing.0 -
Isn't getting on with your life a wonderful thing??? I have 'slipped the surly bonds', as well. After realizing I did NOT die from either the breast cancer or, the bigger threat, the colon cancer, I am going on with my life, enjoying every minute (well, most minutes...I STILL would like to throttle some people) and put the memories of the bad stuff behind me...newboobs said:Chen Chen Chen....I feel your heart. Save all that pink junk in a big box. When you hear of someone diagnosed, send it to THEM! Regift it LOL!
Seriously I know exactly how it is. Oct. is my 6 yr anniv of survival and I have not worn one of my pins...I just don't want to this year. But I must say I would NOT reject one of those cool new BC mustangs. ;-)
I always buy the Brighton bc bracelets and give one to my mom- she LOVES it, plus I auction 1 off at my Rotary club each fall. It's weird, but the longer I am a survivor, I'm filling my life with other things, not just being identified as the breast cancer lady. I think that's a good thing.
Hugs, Kathi0 -
You ladies are too, too much! Just when I think I am ungrateful, or not appreciative, or (perish the thought!) plain WRONG about something, you validate me! I have not shunned all things Pink; the Brighton bracelets in support of me and my BC sisters will remain a yearly purchase.
I just want to thank you so much for letting me vent about Pink! Who else could I have possibly said this to and found sympathetic ears?? No one!
For those of you "newbies" who have not been inundated with Pink~do not misunderstand me, please. I love awareness, and support! But in the same way that I have not worn a bandana since chemo, I hope that my LIFE is a testament to survival, not just the color I wear! You ladies rock!
Hugs,
Claudia0 -
Chen - TRUTH-- I had no more hit "POST IT" on my post this AM and a pal called to tell me she saw the 3-day bc walk going down the road, thought of me and HAD to call....I just had to giggle. lolchenheart said:You ladies are too, too much! Just when I think I am ungrateful, or not appreciative, or (perish the thought!) plain WRONG about something, you validate me! I have not shunned all things Pink; the Brighton bracelets in support of me and my BC sisters will remain a yearly purchase.
I just want to thank you so much for letting me vent about Pink! Who else could I have possibly said this to and found sympathetic ears?? No one!
For those of you "newbies" who have not been inundated with Pink~do not misunderstand me, please. I love awareness, and support! But in the same way that I have not worn a bandana since chemo, I hope that my LIFE is a testament to survival, not just the color I wear! You ladies rock!
Hugs,
Claudia0 -
Hey Claudia..you are just to cool. Okay..Okay...I slipped in here for a minute. I knew I'd read something from you that made me laugh!!!
Oh..by the way, I bought a pink sock hat with the COLTS horse shoe (in blue). All though it was not meant to be BC awareness, I know think people think I have breast cancer! Hmmmm....Maybe I'll put COLON HERE..on the cap. Bet they think the cap should be BROWN!
Have a good weekend
The other Claudia!!0
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