A hero ain’t just a sandwich…

I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams.
Aunt May – Spiderman 2

So what if it’s a quote from a damn movie, it makes a whole lot of sense. I don’t think the term hero should be delegated to beings that were able to hold the whole world on their backs, throw a hundred yard forward pass (is that possible?), or bash a bazillion homeruns. There is an element of heroic will, determination, and strength in all of us… we just have to venture a bit more to see it. I am blessed to have quite a few heroes in my life – my grandma, my moms, my bro, and sis, along with a few friends and mentors – but one that has always been by my side through think and thin is my best friend/heroine Maria. I have known this woman for almost ten years now – with our first relationship being teacher-student, then a slight upgrade to boss-employee, a shuffle over to colleague-colleague, all the way to the best of friends. Whenever I need her, or if she needs me, we are there for one another. I remember when my grandma was going in for surgery, she was the only person at work I told about it. She do and say things to get my mind off of it – or when the realization that my grandma wasn’t going to make it, she let me bawl in her office as long as I needed to – because she understood. During that time, she even cut her winter break vacation short with her family to help my family and I prepare the funeral arrangements, and even caught the bus to attend my grandma’s funeral. Despite all of her physical actions, the emotion stability, ears, and heart that she shared with me is priceless, and I don’t know how I’ll ever repay her. Maria is finishing up her PhD work at UCB, and is now on the hunt for work (gulp!) outside of California. I am extremely excited and happy for her, but at the same time I can’t help but be very sad and worried, because the voice and companionship I get on a regular basis will not be so regular anymore. *Sigh* – this just only adds to the emotional funk I am in. Oh well, I guess that means it’s time to dust off my own cape and be a hero to myself.

p.s. On a side not, in combating this emotional funk, I went to kickboxing twice and yoga for the first time in my life. I think I’m getting addicted to both. Thanks Yvette and Veronica – you ladies are the best!