“i think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.”
-bob dylan
—
thank you to veterans everywhere
Nov11
Tag Archives: hero
Sep20
r.i.p. rbg.
Ruth Bader delivers a sermon as camp Rabbi at the age of 15, at Che-Na-Wah camp in Minerva, N.Y. (Photo: Supreme Court of the United States)
on the occasion of her 20th anniversary on the bench in 2013.
–Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Aug4
honor.
no finer way to honor this hero
“the vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have.”
-john lewis
—
image credit: michigan theatre, ann arbor, michigan, usa
Apr3
strength.
wearing an ac/dc t-shirt, ripped up jeans, and velcro shoes
all while wrapped in a cape made from your swaddling blanket
bestows unlimited strength and heroic powers upon you.
—
“a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength
to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
-christopher reeve
Aug28
what is a hero?
President Richard M. Nixon honors John McCain at the State Department
after McCain was released by the North Vietnamese in 1973
after more than five years as a prisoner of war.
(U.S. Navy)
—
RIP Senator John McCain
a maverick in the truest sense of the word
—
“I’ve tried to serve our country honorably. I’ve made mistakes, but I hope my love for America will be weighed favorably against them. I’ve often observed that I am the luckiest person on Earth. I feel that way even now, as I prepare for the end of my life. I’ve loved my life, all of it. I’ve had experiences, adventures, friendships, enough for 10 satisfying lives, and I am so thankful. Like most people, I have regrets. But I would not trade a day of my life in good or bad times for the best day of anybody else’s.”
-John McCain – from a letter he left to be read upon his death
—
“a hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” bob dylan
—
image credit: washington post
May11
same hero, different season.
in much the same way
that he appeared out of the blue
in the midst of a very heavy snow season
to ask if i would hire him to shovel my driveway
and disappearing just as suddenly
only to appear again
last weekend
wheeling his mower down the sidewalk
and stopping by
to ask if i would hire him to mow my lawn
soon after my lawn mower refused to start
the quiet, polite, hardworking kid with no name is back
and gone again.
—
“everybody is a hero in their own story if you just look.”
-maeve binchy
—
image credit: pincor products vintage advertising
Aug18
unsung hero.
got a call from ‘h’ daughter number three
suddenly looking for solar eclipse glasses
we both called all of our possible sources
everyone was sold out
until
my last call
to the 7-11 store
right downtown
in the heart of the student area
the woman on the phone whispered
“the truck just came in with a shipment”
felt like i was in a mob movie
this was magic to my ears
the boys jumped barefoot into my car
we zoomed a few blocks to downtown
quickly pulled into an expired parking space
somewhat close to the store
(disclaimer: all of this was done safely, mom and dad,
so i’m not banned from future care taking)
just as i got out of my car
i spied a meter maid 3 cars ahead
intense and on a mission
the boys would try to talk her out of it
if she wanted to ticket us
just then
the police arrived to have a discussion
with a group of people and their dogs
who had gathered across the street
enough to distract and delay the meter maid hopefully
ran to the store
and straight into a dead stop
right at the back of a giant line
of students ordering up grilled food
paying with change
moving slowly
apparently not needing to be anywhere
found a friendly worker
asked her if they still had the glasses
she was reluctant and nervous at first
looked around
over her shoulder
said she could only sell me one
when i asked her
to please sell me a few more
the godfather/district manager
who happened to be in the store
overheard and stepped in
giving her the nod/authorizing her
to sell me what i needed
she moved me up to her register
rang me up
she was giggling and happy and smiling with the glasses in hand
my unsung hero
who worked small miracles on this day
i knew i had to sprint back to the car
but while i was in there
negotiating my deal
cement workers had arrived
and closed off the sidewalk
took a detour
made it to the car in time
with all the glasses i needed
no harm no foul
the stars had aligned
happy to have pulled off this caper
boys having learned some real life skills
no ticket
so glad to have met a person
who went the extra mile to help
that i gave her a tip
and wrote her a haiku in gratitude.
—
hero haiku
here’s to you hero
big gulp lotto chips seller
you make people smile
—
“for a true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength,
but by the strength of his heart.”
(or her)
-zeus (from hercules)
Dec13
don’t be long.
before he was an astronaut,
john glenn served as a military pilot during world war II and the korean war.
before leaving for combat missions, he always told his wife annie,
“i’m just going to the corner store to get a pack of gum.”
she always replied, “don’t be long.”
—
” the return makes one love the farewell. “
-alfred de musset
–
farewell john glenn, one of my heroes.
—
credits: cnn.com, mental floss, washington post
Mar22
never worry about numbers. help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you. ~mother teresa
i went for a visit
on a day off from teaching
to teach
in my youngest daughter’s class
where she is a first year teacher
and
on my way
i was overwhelmed
when
i thought about
her class
so young
and
so many of them
who
live
amid
poverty
and
violence
and
hunger
and
chaos
and
i wanted to
stop
and
buy them
everything
for many
have nothing
but
when i got there
we shared
a meeting
a holiday lesson
paint and glitter
stickers
books
and
hugs
and
as i
sat on the floor
with them
and read stories
and told them
about the holiday
and sang songs
and played games
and helped them
one on one
and watched
the stronger ones
help the others
who were struggling
it was clear
that no matter
their circumstances
first and foremost
they were still children
who needed attention
and love
and support
and
with kind hearts
who happen to be
in
tough situations
through no fault
of their own
and
some will sink
and
some will swim
and
rise above
and
my daughter
is someone
who is helping to
make that difference
for them
just by caring
and trying
and
giving her all
and then some
even in this
very challenging environment
and one said,
‘i never had a rainbow sticker before. i really love it so much.’
and
it was so small
but meant a lot to him
and they sat near me and braided my hair
and felt it
because it was different
and asked me questions
about their teacher
my daughter
‘does she have any sisters?’
‘you her mama?’
‘can you bring in your grandkids?’
and i realized
what a hero
my daughter is
each and every day
and
i was
overwhelmed
all over again
and
i could not
be prouder.
—-
ON HEROES WITHOUT CAPES
“when I was very young, most of my childhood heroes wore capes, flew through the air, or picked up buildings with one arm. they were spectacular and got a lot of attention.but as I grew, my heroes changed, so that now I can honestly say that anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me.”
– mr. rogers
I didn't have my glasses on.... 