A Poem.....................

Pink Ribbons: The Ties That Bind
by Beth Thompson
I never realized the strength a tiny bit of ribbon can impart until I pinned a twist of pink above my heart to symbolize survival;
until I saw acquaintances and friends and loved ones wear the same, in my name, to show their strong support.
It's so hard to reclaim your life once the crisis ends.
You're never sure it's really over.
So courage begins with the pinning on of symbols in the face of lasting fears.
Once the illness touches you, you know you can't depend on cures, to last forever, so you wear pink,to show the world, and show yourself, you're still there, and you intend to stay.
Courage is persisting in the face of fear, not waiting until it disappears to soldier on.
A pink ribbon twist to symbolize endurance with a bit of flair - you're still there!
We've always decorated life with ribbons: pink or blue to celebrate the newborn gift of life, and later, bows for gifts to mark each birthday celebration.
Christmas bows on boxes or on wreathes, and loops of ribbon delicate as orchids for a first corsage or for an anniversary, counting many loving years.
Ribbons range from small reminding bows tied on fingers to giant rosettes of blue and gold to signify a prize-winning day.
We hold together memories of life with ribbon ties.
But ribbons took on a deeper meaning as colors came to symbolize a cause.
Those yellow ribbons tied on treeswere hope and wishes for a loved onecoming home.
Ribbons pinned on uniforms, reminders of bravery long after wars have ended: deliberately colorful as if to triumph over conflict, over pain.
We wear what we want to say, our pledge, what we want others to remember and respect.
So my small twist of pink becomes the symbol of a victory in my own small, terrifying war and helps me seek each day the courage to carry on.
It tells the feelings I can't always speak aloud, from a heart grown strong, a thousand hearts grown strong, despite the delicate shade of pink...
the courage to believe, to heal,the courage to carry on.