A few weeks ago, you might have noticed that the NFL was all decked out in pink, supporting Breast Cancer Awareness. The campaign was called A Crucial Catch. One of its goals was to highlight the importance of annual screening for women over 40.
If you watched football that day, then you would have seen stadiums awash in pale pink; goal posts wrapped in cherry blossom pink; and large, burley players, accustomed to wearing black and purple - sporting the softer, gentler color. Even the refs got in on the action.
So it was no big surprise when a boy, got dressed the next day and pulled on a pair of pink socks. I imagine that he was proud to imitate his football heros, but even more proud of his mother.
A day earlier, he'd watched a football game and wanted to know why everything was pink.
For the first time, since her initial diagnosis 15 years earlier, she told him about breast cancer...her breast cancer.
"Remember all the times I was sick?" she asked, without saying too much.
"Yes," he paused, "but Mother, you've been sick a lot."
So I visibly cringed when I heard that the kid's father looked at the socks he was wearing and told him to turn them inside out because "real men don't wear pink." Would he have said the same to the players who wore pink helmets, gloves and cleats in honor of their mothers and grandmothers, wives and sisters?
Of course not, but
it's good to know that his son is well on his way to becoming a "real" man
and disheartening to know that his father isn't.
even Cameron knows "Tough guys wear pink"
ReplyDeleteI was at the game at M&T Bank Stadium - there was pink everywhere. It was so great to see my heros wearing pink (although they had to darken the pink a bit to look more man-like). But the cheering in support of the cause was awesome! There were ladies introduced on the pregame field who were well-received and were breast cancer survivors who were related to team members or coaches. Now I think of you when I see pink. I think about how quickly life can change. I think about how women are not given a chance to prepare for this HUGE change in their lives, nor are their families given time to accept the roles of caregivers and supporters. I love reading your updates and always finish with a smile and usually some laughs out loud. You are my new hero. See you on Nov. 20!
ReplyDeleteAces and Spades,
Eileen