Today is Monday, June 22nd, 2009; Karen's Korner #1596

A writing published in "Chicken Soup for the Soul of America", featuring the times surrounding 9/11.
It is titled "The Crumpled Blue Ribbon" (in part); it seems appropriate for Fathers' Day weekend:
 
"The Crumpled Blue Ribbon"
Helice Bridges
 
Mrs. Green, a fourth-grade teacher, was grief-stricken as she watched the news on television. As a twenty-two year teacher, she had never known such despair. But then she had another thought, she would purchase blue ribbon for the students to make "Who I am Makes a Difference" ribbons.
 
She told each student in her class how unique and special they each were as she placed a blue ribbon just above each one's heart.
 
As they left her classroom, she handed out extra blue ribbons saying, "Go home and tell your parents, brothers, sisters -- everybody -- how much you love them. Tell them today! Place a blue ribbon above their heart."
 
Less than a week later, a parent stormed into her classroom unannounced.
 
"I'm Timmy's father," he declared. "Was this year idea to do this blue ribbon project?"
 
"Yes," Mrs. Green answered.
 
"Well," the father mumbled, pulling out a crumpled blue ribbon from his pocket, "my son came home the other day and told me how much he loved me and what a good father I am. I've come here to tell you that I'm not a good father. I'm an alcoholic. But something happened to me when my son told me how much he loved me. At that moment, I decided to go to AA for the first time. I even attended church this past Sunday. You see," he said as he turned toward the door, "the world might be hurting, but I don't need to add to the pain. In fact," he said, "from now on I'm going to become the father my son thinks I am......."

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