THE PINK RIBBON

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 you
> > > > 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 pink 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 the man a little
> > > > pink ribbon. The guy looked at it, slowly raised
> > > his
> > > > head and asked, "Can you
> > > > help me put it on?"
> > > >
> > > > 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.
> > > >
> > > > A CANDLE LOSES NOTHING BY LIGHTING ANOTHER CANDLE.
> > >
> > > >
> > > > This one I do ask that you send on.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________