'Lifted' this from another list I'm on - thought you might all appreciate it.

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?"

This is breast cancer awareness month.  Do regular breast self-exams
monthly) and have  annual mammograms if you are a woman over the age
of 45. And encourage those women you love to do the same.

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