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!" he 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?"

April 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.
--Author Unknown