Your Hero(s)

[IhateClowns]

Do you have any? If so what defines them as your hero? Can be a family member. Maybe a sports hero. An author. You can have 4 or 5 heroes. Just wonder who any of yours is and why. Maybe by sharing, it might help others see someone in a different light.



Mine hero is my Grandfather. He was just an awesome man and would do anything for his family. He was a fighter pilot in WWI and II. Was awarded a Purple Heart for his duty as well. Retired a Full Colonel in the Airforce. He defined old school. He was the protector. The bread winner. He was the ultimate patriach of our family.

He died of lung cancer, but he made all of the grandchildren watch how the chemo ravaged his body. He wanted us to see what smoking did to him and it had a profound influence on all of us as none of his grandchildren smoke.

He was a selfless man. Gave back to his community. Gave back to the people he loved and protected. He was just an all around good man. He gave me my sense of humor and certainly gave me the self confidence I have today.

He passed away on my 21st birthday. At first I was upset with him for doing so. Selfish I know, but I was young and dumb. Now I know he did it on purpose. So my hero and I would always have a day we can share together. I

 

[BradBigBrain]

Tough to top that one, bro. WWII vets were the toughest, so let's just say mine is one of them as well. A man who liberated camps in Europe.

 

[IhateClowns]

Tough to top that one, bro. WWII vets were the toughest, so let's just say mine is one of them as well. A man who liberated camps in Europe.

Awesome. Sounds like a good man.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Intriguing topic, seeing as I just thought about this yesterday...

My hero is my Dad. I just love him so much. He's the rock of our family and he has been through so much. He lost a baby brother when he, himself was just a small boy, then later lost his older brother when he was in his early 20's. Later he lost both his parents, just three months apart. His father unexpectedly and his mother from cancer. As life continued to throw him curve balls: the loss of two dairy farms, the inability to aid his eldest daughters when they were in "love" with destructive men and so many other heart-wrenching things... my father still managed to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and love in his arms.

 

[sweetpea24]

My grandmother is my hero. She passed away 5 years ago on New Years Eve of lung cancer.

Growing up she was my confidant, my companion, she made sure I had hugs when I needed them. When my parents went through a separation, she did everything in her power to make sure me and my brother were okay. Her house was someplace I could always go to feel safe, supported, and most of all loved. She was always there for me.

Even now, though she is gone, I have her pearls of wisdom she shared to help me through difficult times. I have the memories of her hugs and shoulder to cry on. I don't think there is a day that goes by that I don't think of her.

 

[IhateClowns]

Nolan Ryan was my sports hero. Being a pitcher and being drafted I idolized his demeanor on the mound. He was intimidating. Ruthless he was mean and stubborn on the mound but a good ol' boy off it. I got a chance to meet him while pitching at UT. Very humble and down to earth. His work ethic was unparalleled.

 

[IhateClowns]

Thanks to those that posted and those that PM'ed me.

 

[Pinktacokitty]

Thanks to those that posted and those that PM'ed me.

My parents are my heros, my mom for being the most understanding person in the world. Every time I have ever told her something stupid I have done she has been understanding, always quick to point out we all make mistakes. Then and only after she has reassured me things will be ok, she lectures me always ending with I Love You, and reminds me I am just like my father.
My dad is the one that taught me never never never settle for the norm, make waves be unique. I inherited his mischievous gene, and his love of the Longhorns. I do not think I will ever stop learning from them. The only down side is they love to call and lecture, so I listen then resume my coloring outside the lines as was taught by both of them.

 

[snakebyte]

I have many heroes, Dan Marino, Magic Johnson, Dean Koontz, Bret "Hitman" Hart, Shawn Michaels, Vince McMahon, Johnny Depp.

However to me true heroes are every day people. The US military are my biggest heroes. They sacrifice time with their families and loved ones and sometimes even their lives to keep us free. Also the single mom who works and struggle to feed and clothe their child, sometimes going without things for themselves to take care of their children.

 

[julybaby04]

My heros are my children.....as young as they are, they have been and continue to be incredibly brave as cancer is winning it's battle with their dad.....

So strong they are.....such incredible young spirits and hearts!

 

[IhateClowns]

My heros are my children.....as young as they are, they have been and continue to be incredibly brave as cancer is winning it's battle with their dad.....

So strong they are.....such incredible young spirits and hearts!

I am sure you are an inspiration and hero to them at the same time.

 

[Gracie29]

Now I know he did it on purpose. So my hero and I would always have a day we can share together.

That's a pretty awesome way of looking at it and I think you're probably right

My number one hero has always been my dad - technically my stepfather. He and my mother married when I was just around 7 years old. He took on a single mom with three kids and loved us as if we were his own. It wasn't until I was older that I learned all the hardships he had to endure in his life before he met us - and yet still he turned out to be the most amazing man ever. He had an awesome sense of humor and a huge heart. Cancer took him from us a week after my birthday in 2006. I wanna be like him when I grow up.

My second hero ... my big brother. I've jokingly nicknamed him "Stupid", but he's anything but. He's cheated death in a huge way twice ... the first time in a horrible car accident where the doctors were actually telling us to prepare ourselves. The second time he was shot on the job: side of the abdomen, his face and his arm. Some say he has bad luck. Others say he's got an angel watching out for him. Regardless, he's still standing and moving forward without any of the outward bitterness he deserves to have. He's an incredible inspiration.

 

[Blueeyedbob]

My hero is the person who reminded me of my dreams. She has pulled me out of my endless cycle of trying to make someone fit a list of things I want. She can make me smile by just looking at me. She can make me cry by just existing. She gives me love that I do not deserve and is always there to tell me when I am just being stupid. She gives me everything that I have ever wanted. She is my life, my beautiful rain maker.

 

[IhateClowns]

My sister is a hero of mine. They have struggled with getting pregnant. Spent close to 100k on invetro and a few other things. Was told on two different occassions that the invetro took to have it end sadly a few days later. Had a woman offer to give up her baby to them for adoption but once they wanted to get lawyers involved she took off, apparently just wanting to extort money from them.

Through all of the bullshit she has stayed strong. Prayed and held steadfast to her beliefs that one day she would become a Mom. It finally happened for them two weeks ago. She is now a Mom and I an Uncle for the first time. It is amazing how strong she is and how she has perservered through all of this. That little boy is one lucky fella to have an amazing Mom. I am lucky to have a younger sister like her to look up to.

 

[CloaknDagger]

My mother is my hero.

 

[IhateClowns]

The guy who invented NyQuil. Right now you are my hero. You have made the pain kinda go away and who really cares if I am seeing cartooon characters swirrling around at this point. You don't want me to operate heavy machinery after taking the medicine you created yet you put these wild coma inducing thoughts into my head to do exactly that. So I am going to take my green stained teeth and find the first tractor I can find and go run over some children.

Thank you

 

[airblade]

My mom for sure... maybe one day I'll tell her...

 

[justuandmekiddo]

George Brett.......I watched him come up with so many late game heroics it was scary. He played hard all the time and that was how I always played.....just not as well.....lol...Being in the stands at his last home game before retirement will always be one of my saddest days ever.

 

[ivantheterrible]

my paternal grandfather. raised OLD school in the early 1900's in wv, which is like saying it was like the 1800's or earlier. was a moonshiner with his dad and brothers. did 6 months when he got caught. was released early because prohibition was repealed. built a log cabin and raised a family.
tecumseh, crazy horse, sitting bull, pontiac, and many AIM members in the 60's and 70's.

 

[IhateClowns]

My mother in law is. Yes she may be battling Alzheimers but I look up to her on a daily basis. To adopt my wife as a single woman back in the 70's was unheard of, yet she did it and worked 2 jobs to make sure she had everything she could want growing up. I know Alzheimers has taken over her mind, but there are glimpses in her smile that lets me know she is still in there. It is a sad disease to watch especially from such a strong proud woman, but she will always be a hero in my eyes.

 

[Cinner]

My father battled various illnesses for over 50 years without complaint. He had cancer, epilepsy (three kinds!), a heart condition, several strokes, diabetes, kidney problems, macular degeneration etc, etc, etc... For all this though he was kind, spiritual, cheerful and optimistic. I am proud to say that he worked hard to better the lives of the deprived and powerless here in Jamaica. I will never forget his courage. My attempt to have a child via IVF today is in large part because I want to continue his family line. His line will die with me if I don't succeed with this and I feel it important to pass on the lessons that he taught me to his grandchildren.

 

[NeonSubtlety]

The closest thing I have to a hero is my pops. He's an engineer who worked on pipelines. Initially, you'd think "good job. He was lucky." right? That man hated his job for the first 20 years of my life. But he spent 50 hours every week on a cubicle, being angry at his lif every evening, but doing it so that my sister and I could go to a private school through 8th grade; so that we could have a car when we went away to college; so that we wouldn't have to work while we studied.

Finally, about 5 years ago, he quit and started doing carpentry work. He gets to spend 12 hours a day in his workshop, and he loves it. And, really, he deserves it.

 

[ZipBlockBloodie]

My mother she is alway encouraging me to keep going and going. She's helped with my women problems and getting back to college and getting my life on track. She tough me all my manners even though she was a single mom and I have her a little trouble during the high school years we've have a good mother son relationship. She's also the reason I have a lot respect for women in general and why I always stick up for women who are single and hard working.

 

[fire_breeze]

My Grandmothers. Both of them. My Maternal Grandmother left her home with her family at 8 because it became too dangerous to live (post Trianon). Then at fourteen, she followed her Mother to Switzerland, who was looking for cancer treatment. She became an orphan in a foreign country soon after. She learned two entirely new language, supported herself, and went to school. After she married my Grandfather, they built up a successful business. At 70, she sold everything, the life she built and friends she made and left again and moved across the ocean to be near her family.

My Paternal Grandmother grew up in extreme poverty (neither parent wanted her so she was placed in a home), and became a avant-garde philosopher, at a time where women were not. She was used because of her compassion but she still found it within her to offer help throughout her life. She lived through 2 world wars, a bloody revolution and watched her husband taken as a political prisoner, not knowing that he'd survive prison before being taken into a work camp herself. There, she was befriended by social outcasts (prostitutes, lesbians, etc) because she dared to speak to them with respect while other "ladies" disdained them. This saved her life. After being released and nursing her traumatised husband, she then watched as her two sons escaped their country because of the revolution and the part they took in fighting the oppressive regime and regaining the freedom that was taken from home.

Both women gave until their dying days - even when they had nothing to give, and they both found hope and goodness in humanity when humanity left them to starve and die. They taught that every single human being is worthy of respect and of acceptance.

 

[availableslave2u]

my mom is my hero. she is such a giving, wonderful, caring, funny woman. if you told her that you couldn't find a blue shirt, she'd be on your doorstep the next morning with 5 blue shirts. she amazes me all the time. she is in the beginning stages of alzheimer's now and she knows her memory is going. she tries so hard to still do for people. she'd knitting a baby blanket for a friend of ours right now. she can't remember what row she's on half the time. it looks like shit, but she's doing it. she smiles at me and thanks me when i do the smallest thing for her. i've been so sick this week and she's trying so hard to help. she made me a grilled cheese the other night. the cheese wasn't melted, but it was the best damned sandwich i've ever had. if i can be half the woman my mom is, i'll be a success in life.