Everyday Heroes

Holy Christ, if this story doesn't tear at your heart, you're going straight to hell. This little girls actions can only be described as heroic. I've noticed a lot lately that the word "Hero" has been thrown around a lot lately and it's starting to make people forget the reason why it is a significant word. Professional athletes, Protesters, Hollywood Celebrities, even Politicians have been called "hero" at some point in history. I think it's time we tone it back a bit and leave that word for people who truly deserve it.

Heroes don't do things for glory. They don't do them for gain. They even don't do it for themselves. They do the things they do because they know in their heart it would be wrong to allow another human being to suffer or die while they had the ability and fortitude to prevent it. Firemen, Police Officers, Bomb Squad Techs, even passionate Teachers and normal everyday people are often heroes.

My nephew (technically second cousin, but I call him my nephew) is currently a Fire Cadet. He's 18 and in the training program as we speak. Good God, 18??? I'm getting old. But that's another story. He has his head screwed on straight and I am quite proud of him. I even let him know the mountain of pussy he's going to get because EVERY woman I know digs a fireman. It's the "knight in shining armor" thing that gets them every time. Now, once he's through with the program, it will be his job to be a hero. He will have to run into burning buildings, help peel people out of mangled car accidents and, probably, deliver a baby or two in his lifetime. It takes a certain person to be able to see death and destruction day in and day out and continue to do it as a career.

Everyday people can be heroes as well. Personally, I've pulled children out of mangled cars that have been in accidents and flipped over several times. I have performed CPR on an elderly gentleman who later died (he had heart trouble, I got word from the paramedics that my CPR was what allowed him to live for that much longer).

What have I gotten from these events in my life? I have nightmares from time to time about the little girl I pulled from the flipped over car. I didn't think that flashbacks were real. I thought they were made up Hollywood shit. I've had them, and they are real. But despite it all, I know in my heart, that if someone needs help, I'm always going to be the first one heading towards that person.

So when you tell me that Mike Tyson, Michael Jordan, Bill Clinton, or George Clooney are heroes, I'll show you my cousin, who went into the police academy to make his kids' lives better. I'll show you my second cousin, who's going to be a fireman. I'll show you my friend who helped me with the CPR. Then I'll ask you, what makes your hero a hero?

As a side note, that day my friend and I did CPR on the gentleman in the Target jewelry section, I introduced him to my wifes friend. My wife and her friend were working in Target at the time while going to college. My friend and I were covered in blood because the gentleman smacked his head on the jewelry case on his way down when he collapsed. My friend and my wifes friend are now happily married with a baby daughter.


Travis