Every journey begins with one step! I intend to take many in order to participate in the Chicago Avon 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk. I will walk 60 miles from Kenosha, Wisconsin to Chicago, with many other brave women and men to fight breast cancer. One weekend that will surely change my life! Sometimes in life you are given an opportunity to surprise even yourself...

It is 10 years since I had a lump removed which fortunately was benign. Each day I see my scar as a reminder of how lucky I am because my grandmother had breast cancer. I will walk because my mother, sister, aunts, sister-in-laws, nieces, cousins and friends are healthy, and for the women who bravely battle this disease.

I would like to share an email I received on the day I took my mother for a biopsy, which prompted me to register for the walk. I believed this email was a sign that my mother would be fine. Upon receiving good news on her test I felt compelled to show my appreciation for my prayers being answered.

A handsome middle aged man walked quitely into a 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 greatful for my mother's breasts and her health." "Ummm" 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 nutured and nurished our beautiful daughter 23 years ago. I am grateful for my wife's breasts, and her health." "Uh huh, and I guess you wear it to honor your daughter also," said the other guy. "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 since it wasn't painfull it was nothing to worry about." Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, "Oh man, I'm so sorry mister". "So in my daughter's memory, I wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to your wife, daughter, mother and your friends. And here..." The middle aged man reached into his pocket and handed the other man a pink ribbon. The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, "Can you help me put it on?"

Just a quick note on why the "green" theme vs pink (pink for breast cancer) because I am Irish and proud. I am counting on the "Luck of the Irish" to help me through my journey!!!!!

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