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  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 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. 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 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. I also wear the 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.
And I guess you wear it to honour your daughter, also?"  "No. 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?" 


A CANDLE LOSES NOTHING BY LIGHTING ANOTHER
CANDLE. PLEASE KEEP THIS CANDLE GOING!