Heroes

What is a hero? Merriam Webster’s definition is:

a : a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability
b : an illustrious warrior
c : a person admired for achievements and noble qualities
d : one who shows great courage

I’d like to add in there

e : one who persists, endures and continues to fight the good fight – who keeps on keeping on.

What is “the good fight?” Dunno – waddya got? It can be the battle against racism, misogyny, classism and all the other demons plaguing humanity. There’s the well known – Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters, Katie Porter, Stacey Abrams and all the not so well knowns.

Michael Chow/The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK

More heroes – ALL the unnamed medics – nurses, doctors, EMTs, ambulance drivers – who risk their lives daily for us. They do it even for those obscenely dipshitted assholes who can’t be arsed to wear a damn mask or observe social distancing.

The unsung environmental activists and workers who’ve made it their life’s work to improve their corner of the planet.

Over this long life, my immediate, personal heroes have changed, shifted, grown. Why? Heroism isn’t static.

Of course, my father – Daddy, is a big hero. No parent is abso-perfect BUT, Daddy always encouraged me to be exactly who I am and to be proud of that too. Kevin Scott was next – amongst other things, he inspired me to unleash my inner tart-tongued, foulmouthed feminist and instilled in me the knowledge that setting boundaries is not just smart, it’s necessary. The Amazing Bob was my hero throughout our 30 years together – from him I learned kindness, cultivated broader creativity and a wider overall perspective. I’ve learned so damn much from the three of them.

Who are some of my current personal, every day (or close to it) heroes?

• Ten, Jen and Oni who take care of me, help me exercise, cook for me and assist in my ongoing, never-ending recovery process. Also too, they put up with my daily dumpster-load of nonsense. Apparently, after all I’ve put them through, they still love me. Weird, huh?
• The rescue squad and EMTs who’ve come to Valhalla once every few weeks (on average) since August to stabilize me and tote my less than wispy self down our slim flight of stairs, into the ambulance and off to Mass General’s ER.
• Hillel, who gets me and makes me laugh.
  

Who are your heroes – personal and otherwise?

Bowie – Heroes