Pink Ribbons, Green Ribbons

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 1999.  Thank God, she's alive and well today.  At the time I thought it was "appropriate" that's what she got because as we all know, the color for breast cancer is pink and pink was already one of her colors.  I, on the other hand, don't do pink at all.  Green is my color.  So, quite a while ago I searched to see what green ribbons stood for, figuring in a lighthearted way that's what I'd end up with.  I saw it was kidney cancer.  "Hmmm," I thought.  "Who gets kidney cancer?  That's odd and rare."

Little did I know who would get it.  I wasn't married at the time, I don't think.  I certainly was a long way off from having my son.  I never in a million years thought it would really happen in my family.  But you know what, Fate?  It should have been me.  You got it all wrong.  We have no idea what Simon's favorite color is.  That green ribbon I was looking up, that was what I was going to get, not my one year old son.  Please pick on someone your own size.

And speaking of pink ribbons, my poor mother had this misfortune of being diagnosed in early October (9th or 10th).  Guess what October is?  Breast Cancer Awareness Month!  She couldn't go five minutes without being reminded of what she was going through.  And that was 1999.  It's gotten so much worse since then.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all about curing breast cancer and whatnot, but the whole "pink" thing has gotten so out of hand.  First of all, you gotta give them props for their marketing.  By "they" I mean breast cancer folks in general.  They really get the message out there, but it does seem to kind of overshadow research and fundraising for other types of cancer.  Secondly, it sickens me to see it being exploited to sell all manner of claptrap.  Here's just a sample.  I'm sure it's much more about boosting sales than helping the cause in any meaningful way.

My favorite is when I'm at the grocer's and they ask me if I want to donate a dollar for breast cancer.  Thanks but no thanks.  I have no idea where the money I give you is going.  If I donate it will be to a reputable organization.  I always feel like I must look like a jackass for saying no.  But I don't care.

So, this month is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  It gets almost no attention.  Next month is when we get the onslaught of pink.