PINK RIBBON
 
 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 you 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 pink
 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 the man a little 
 pink ribbon. The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, "Can 
 you help me put it on?
 
 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.