We Can Be Heroes

There’s enough of them about now that you will have at least seen a clip from a Marvel superhero movie and I think generally, we all understand what a superhero is. Someone with amazing abilities, whether gifted or bought who does the unthinkable, becomes the unshakeable, takes out the villainous trash. And these movies are Americanised (I do sometimes wish we had more British superheroes and I console myself with the knowledge that British actors play some of the most famous ones) and culture is awash with them. I myself inhale them at a rapid pace. I do enjoy them. But I’m realistic enough to know that a cape on me would look silly however much I really want to strut around in one, I don’t have the package or the abs to pull off a skin tight suit and if I picked up a weapon, I’m more likely to hurt myself with it than anyone else. It’s just not my line of work.

But that’s superheroes. It’s fantasy. I’ve always wanted to be a hero to someone though and heroes exist in real life. The paramedic, the doctor, the fireman, the random stranger who steps into danger. Real life people doing real life shit. And I’m not one of those people… yet. I suppose I could be if I decided on a career change, but I doubt that’s going to happen now. I’ve been fortunate enough that I’ve never been in a situation where I needed to step in the way of danger. But that’s not the sort of hero I mean. Heroes come in many different fashions.

Oh we can be heroes, just for one day…

david bowie – heroes

Regular readers will know that my hero died just over two years ago. The person I looked up to the most and relied on the most. And most of the time I didn’t need him to actually be there, just the knowledge that he was a message away meant that I had that reassurance, that back up. I’m pretty sure he would’ve worn a cape for me though for a laugh.

He’s gone now, but please don’t think I’m starved of love and support because I’m absolutely not. I’m so very lucky to have a network of family and friends (and a professional psychologist) that provide me with everything I could ever need. But my hero isn’t there any more so now I have to be my own hero. I wonder if I’m growing up, but I’m not sure anyone close to me would think I am.

I also wonder sometimes if I have the ability to be a hero, do I have what it takes? Can I be one for me and do I have the whatsits to be one for someone else? I suppose I’m going to have to find out.