I get a little cranky this time of year. It wasn't always like this. October was by far my favorite month. It even surpassed the Armageddon like month of December where stress and hysteria over "being ready" for the holidays takes on a life of its own. I loved the transition from summer to fall. Albeit, the mostly fake fall we experience here in southern California - right now I'm writing this post in 90 degree weather.
Nonetheless....I loved it.
But now, I get cranky. I get cranky over pink. I get cranky over the cheap pink crap being hawked for "awareness"........
A Sassy Pink Apron
A Pink Mohawk
And, my favorite......
Show your support with
A Pink Flask
Although, I do admit, a flask and a stiff drink might have come in handy during certain times of my treatment, I really have to wonder how one is showing support while swigging alcohol out of a pink flask.
Sigh.....I feel like October has almost become a parody of pink awareness. I think of it like Fourth of July. How a time in history that was filled with blood shed and lost lives is now represented by red, white and blue, a barbeque and sparklers.
Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's still too raw. Maybe I'm wrong. But then I think......how can a pink flask be right? I want to spread awareness......I want people to know.......But somehow I can't help but feel that pink has turned everything into a big party like atmosphere. The pink covers up so much of the horribleness of this disease. I've come to dislike pink.......
Pink Plastic Feather Light Up Pens, anyone?!
So anyway, in one of my very cranky moods yesterday, I did something that I've been thinking about for a long time. I called out Yoplait and their stupid "lick lids to save lives" campaign. Yep. I did. I wrote on their facebook wall and never looked back. Ok, I did look back a couple times to see if they ever responded to me....but other than that I had no regrets. It actually made me feel better getting it off my chest.
I hate that campaign. So here's what I wrote......
***As a stage III breast cancer survivor and a Yoplait yogurt eater, I just have to ask why there has to be a whole circus act of licking, washing, saving, envelope wasting, postage spending, gas to the mailbox guzzling and useless time in transit traveling just for you to donate to the cause. Can't you just base it on sales for that month? I understand that a person can do it online. I appreciate that you are donating to research. But is sending in the lid really necessary? I've been annoyed by this campaign for years and just had to ask why there had to be so much licking of lids for a contribution. *****
Why so much licking of lids?!?!? Why!?!? Why for the love of saliva do we have to lick the lids?!?!? Now, I do admit that this year they added the option for doing it online. Which I think...ok. But the licking of the lids and sending them in drove me up a wall.
So, someone did write back to me.....
***Karin - congrats on being a survivor! We take all fan feedback to heart. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
The lids campaign is a strong part of our history in supporting Susan G. Komen and it's so much more than a donation in our eyes. It offers a tangible way to rally together, further awareness of early detection and celebrate those affected by the disease.
That said, we DO want to make it easy to get involved so we added the online redemption option this year. Additionally, through the end of the year, Yoplait will donate 10 cents per new Facebook page "like" (up to $10,000).**
I'm still not sure how licking lids celebrates those affected....but whatever. It's a marketing ploy on Yoplait's part and I totally get that. And, then I thought....how nice for them to donate $10,000 with each "like" they get. Then, I starting thinking....well, wait. Isn't that bribery...or extortion....or entrapment...or something like that? Why can't they just donate the damn money without there being something in it for them?
Sigh......maybe I'm still too raw.......
I'm done complaining.
Well.........not really. Because, I will never stop complaining about Michael's bad customer service and pink feather awareness pens.
Signed,
Cranky Mc Crankerson
