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 j oke 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 pink 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. 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 honour."
" 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 honour 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. A nd I guess you wear it to honour your daughter, also?"
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"It's too late to honour 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 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.
