Subject: Breast Cancer Awareness{Insp}
From: Unicorn (unicorn@indenial.com)
Date: Mon Jan 31 2000 - 04:01:52 EST
"Breast Cancer Awareness"
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?"
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