Who are our heros and why???

[FlamingoBlue]

Yesterday, in the Comics, I read a strip where a child asked his father
why the public was so concerned about what celebrities did or said and why we make heros out of them. The conclusion was that we pay attention to them because we can generally rise above them, in thought and deed.

So, then, who are your real heros today? Do you even have a hero?
Clue me in??

I'll start. My hero is my mother. She's 87 1/2 years old, independent as hell and brighter than sunshine. She lives alone, cooks and cleans her own apartment and drives a car. Except at night. (That's when her 86 year old bf drives her around because he can see after dark). Widowed at 51, and having worked most of her adult life, my mother worked until she was 70. She rarely asked for anything, mostly out of pride. Whe she did ask, it was usually very hard to get her to accept things. ( She has become more gracious about accepting things, lately).

My mother has battled and beat every major illness imaginable. She had a triple bypass 7 years ago and a heart cath 6 months ago told us that her arteries are still clean. The Angel of Death knows where she lives but is afraid to stop by for fear of getting an ass kickin'. My mother says that she's much too busy to die and is planning on getting a letter from the President when she reaches 100.

My mother was honored several years ago as a senior citizen who had done a lot for the seniors in our town, At the time she recieved the honor, I hated her. Today, I am devoted to her and love her more than I ever imagined. Actually, she is probably reponsible for helping me to understand the concept of Love.

Now for the single reason that makes her my hero. Its because she has learned how to accept change in her life and adapt to it.That's the true reason why I love her so much, that and a lot of therapy and introspection.

So, who is your hero? I'm not talking about the swimmer in the Olympics that came in last in the race but first in our hearts. I'm talking about someone who has had a real positive impact on your life.


blue





[Edited by FlamingoBlue on 09-25-2000 at 09:44 AM]

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Great hero Blue.......

Your Mom's better'n any celebrity anywhere.

Which by the way - this "celebrity as hero," to many of our Ute's out there. Bad, bad, bad!!!!!

Sports? Of course because these days, more than ever - it's Sports Celebrity.

Not to say our Presidents have been very good in that department of late.

And what happened the Astronauts?

I guess the Olympic athlete - for the most part - still has not been tainted too much by celebrity - but not for any lack of trying. NBC is crying the blues - apparently Americans are watching other celebrities, on other channels. Will see what happens next Olympics - some executives in TV land are already pumping up the volume for Salt Lake to get higher ratings. Maybe they should give Vince MacMahon a call.

Of course, I can only hero worship Leo's. Mae West, born the day I was.

 

[Alyrahh]

My Grandmother was my hero. My fondest memories as a child are the weekends spent with her (basically every weekend since we only lived 4 miles apart). She had such an amazing sense of humor. The woman gave life to 13 children, and in turn close to one hundred grand and great grandchildren, yet had enough time and love to make each and every one of us feel very important to her.

She came to live with my parents after a stroke left her unable to walk or care for herself, I was an adult by this time and no longer living at home, although I visited quite frequently. I'll never, ever forget the first full day she was officially living there, my younger brother was on his knees in front of her chair giving her a hug and telling her how happy he was that she'd come to stay with them. To this she replied, "Well, you make me a promise, promise me that if I ever get on your nerves you'll tell me ok?" Of course my brother agreed. Grandma immediately retorted with "And I'll tell you to kiss my ass."

That little scene, to me, is the epitome of her personality; sharp, intelligent, and damn funny right to the end.

 

[Ambrosious]

I vote for my grandfather, papa. Served with pride in WWII til he was shot in the thigh. Farmed all his life. Super gentle man. Never lied (that I know about). Always had time to listen to us kids. The only one in my family that accepted my black wife with good natured humor. Never complained where anyone heard. A good man all around and I aspire to be like him. Gotta go now, getting tears in the keyboard. Gonna go call papa.

 

[FlamingoBlue]

I would like to see some more responses to this thread. Please.

blue

 

[Svedish_Chef]

I would but......

Blue sorry all mine are so called celebs....

 

[Juliangel]

OK Blue here you go, my sister is my hero.

Seven and a half years ago, when she was my age, she found a knot that looked like a baseball sticking out above her left breast.

The doctors told her it was a recurring non-cancerous tumor that feeds off hormones. We all thought it was great news since it was non-cancerous but we were wrong.

These tumors attach themselves to anything they can and destroy it. They can recur at anytime without warning. With the first surgery they had to remove her clavicle and three ribs that the tumor had attached to.

With her second surgery we didn't think she was going to live. They remove her left shoulder and arm, most of the chest wall on the left side and a third of her left lung. They also had to shave a portion of bone off her spine. It was two weeks before they allowed her to wake up after the surgery because of the pain. She was in the hospital for two months.

She just had her third surgery two weeks ago. They caught these before they could attach to anything and she was home three days after the surgery.

She could never have children of her own and instead of being bitter she worships her nieces and nephews. She gets up each day and faces it knowing any day the tumors could attach to her heart, although it isn't always with a smile she does face each day.

I know she is stronger than I am because I do not think I could handle it and yet she has found a way. That is why my sister is my hero.

 

[Patryn]

I know how cheesy this is going to sound, but my hero would be my new boyfriend. Yes, it was his physical appearance that first attracted me to him, but I stayed attracted for several reasons....after all, most people want more than just a pretty face.

I admire the drive and passion he has about his work. I've watched him prepare for class, and for experiments, and the single minded tunnel vision he has while doing it is just amazing. He must have everything as close to perfect as it can possibly be. He feels there's no point to starting something unless you're going to do it right. After all the years of school he's been through, there's still fire in his eyes. He's completely happy with his life, and rightfully proud of his achievements, and that he's made himself what he is, all on his own. I admire him for that, and the fact that he realizes himself as the master of his own destiny.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Playing a hunch....

But could be way wrong as usual.

Patryn? Where you a student, in class with this amazing fellow? Techa, techa - teach me well - sort of thing.

Sorry - a bit personal - but you don't have to even respond.

Spark.

 

[Patryn]

You're right and wrong. I am a student, but not in his discipline, so I've never had him as an instructor, and probably never will. I got into a work study program, and ended up working in his building, which I ordinarily wouldn't have business in.

I like him for him, and not for his position. I think I would feel the same no matter what he did. But I can see where your question came from though.

 

[teresafannin]

My hero is my youngest sister. She is my best friend & has been a great source of support during this last year. She was born blind in one eye, but we never babied her, except when she was a baby. She is an awesome mom, her daughter is wonderful. She works hard at her marriage & with 3 grown stepdaughters, it hasn't been easy for her. She was my son's guardian & would have taken care of him had anything happened to me. She is always there when I need her & other than my son, the family member I love the most. I love my parents & other siblings, but my sis is the best.

 

[Skibum]

My hero is Ethan Allen, the leader of the Green Mountain Boys, Revolutionary soldier, and the guy who blackmailed George Washington into letting Vermont into the Union by threatening in invite the British back in.

 

[Silverlily]

I wasn't going to respond, the thought of typing this out is very painful, but I decided my hero deserves all the credit he can get.

My hero is my father.

Despite what you may have read on other threads about be somewhat neglected as a child, within the past two years, my father has shown himself to be one of the most wonderfully caring people I know.

Two years ago my mother was diagnosed with Lou Gerhig's Disease or ALS. She was 49. Starting with her right hand, her motor neurons, the nerves that control motion, started dying. When a nerve is damaged, as long as the neuron doesn't die, that nerve can regrow. But if neuron death occurs, there is no regeneration. ALS causes neuron death. Usually starting in the extremities, the condition will spread, stealing motion, speach, the ability to swallow, and finally, the ability to breath. The mind is unaffected, the patient is completely aware of what is going on. There is no cure.

Two years ago, my mother was an active speaker for many women's groups, an Executive Assistant, a Sunday school teacher, and the person who had taken care of my kids while I tried to make a decent life for us. Now, she can do nothing for herself, simply nodding her head wears her out. Except for during the day when he is at work, my father takes care of all of her needs. He feeds her, bathes her, dresses her, he has even learned to apply make-up and give manicures. He's retired Army and the government will provide live-in assistance, but my mother does not want anyone but my father.

My husband and I moved back home to help, but really what I do, getting groceries, taking the cats to the vet, fighting with MVA over handicap tags, is simple. My father has to face the tough stuff, watching his wife deteriorate everyday, knowing there is no "getting better". I have never seen him complain or wonder "why me", he does all of this without a bad attitude.

My father is an amazing man. He may not get everything right, but he comes through when it counts. I am proud to be his daughter.

 

[FlamingoBlue]

These are some great stories. I'm sure there are more. Please share them.


blue

 

[Purple Haze]

Walter Payton. Man, he could catch, he could throw, he ran like hell and he always selflessly did what the team needed him to do, God help the blitzing linebacker, This might sound shallow, but all my grandparents are dead and I never knew them, so my heroes are famous people, not for their fame, but for their acheivements and principles. Walt Disney, gotta love'im, Thomas Edison, Muhammed Ali, John Lennon, Bart Simpson (orchestra plays "The Battle Hymm of the Republic") Alfred Hitchcock, Rosa Parks, all those guys that kicked serious ass in World War II .....

I could go on and on and on......

 

[FlamingoBlue]

There has to be more stories than this.

blue

 

[Always]

My hero is my friend Guy. He's 23 years of age and has been through a lot, yet he still smiles at people, gives hugs freely, and laughs with the best. I'm not saying any more cause I don't know if he'd object, so...

 

[OUTSIDER]

Heros:- my friend Steve broke his back in a bike accident at 17, my dad 75 going on 18, once moved a 500lb bomb during WW2 that would have taken out a huge shelter full of people, my mum( now gone from us sadly ) worked in a munition's factory in Wales and was caught when a batch of detonator's blew up and left her with a face full of copper shard's that would from time to time make their way out of her skin.

Oh and this might sound corny but the Dali Lama. ( did I spell that right )