Fwd: [03-2000pregnancyclub] The Candle

[Guest guest]

>From: Bibliomuse@...

>Reply-To: 03-2000pregnancyclubegroups

>To: 03-2000pregnancyclubegroups

>Subject: [03-2000pregnancyclub] The Candle

>Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 13:32:12 EDT

>

> > The Candle

> >

> > 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 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 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.

> >

> >

> > A CANDLE LOSES NOTHING BY LIGHTING ANOTHER CANDLE.

> >

> > This one I do ask that you send on...

> >

> >

> >

>

>=====

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