A More Magenta Friar Phil

It was amusing again this year. From the trolley to Petco Park men kept looking at me like I came from Planet Gayboy. These guys apparently were shocked that I was wearing a magenta tee-shirt and walking with an almost magenta cane! The same thing happened last year.

But the women, at the ballpark, knew exactly what my cap and tee-shirt meant. Again this year I went to the Mother's Day game yesterday at Petco Park to support Breast Cancer awareness and survivors and victim. The magenta ribbon and color that I, many players and fans wore on their arms was to show our silent support.

They knew that the color I was wearing was part of the ribbon and colors used by Susan G. Komen San Diego. As people learned again this year, during the Padres pre-game, this organization is all about breast cancer cure research and breast cancer awareness. This is an issue that affects many Moms but is also no strangers to young girls as well.

Despite the odd looks I got, propably from men who equate a man wearing pink to be non-heterosexual, I was amazed that while I walked around the Park At The Park area many women and families stopped by and thanked me for wearing my magenta and walking with a pink cane that represented the back part of the breast Cancer awareness ribbon.

The women that spoke with me said the same thing over and over. Early detection., as with any cancer, is the key. The Susan G. Komen San Diego website has a great page about Breast Cancer Self-Awareness that details what women and their female kids, presumably after puberty starts, should be aware of when they do their recommended monthly exams.

Mammograms are also very important. The site states that if you are uninsured and can't afford a mammogram you can call 2-1-1 San Diego and they can tell you where to ge a free mammogram.

I also learned a lesson I forgot...never assume ANYTHING. I assumed that the Padres were going to ignore this issue because they were honoring "Military Moms' - they changed it to spouses at the game- but I should have known all of MLB was doing Breast Cancer Awareness because of the pink the players and umpires were wearing yesterday.

Silly me.