A Look at Heroes, Part 1

Heroes.

We all have them.
The "someone" who saves the day, whether real or imaginary. Someone who inspires you, who pushes you to be more than you thought you could be.

Mom, Dad, Grandma, Foster Parent;
A policeman, fireman, or soldier;
A favorite teacher or mentor;
Superman, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman;
Jesus Christ, Moses, Mohammad, the Dalai Lama;
Martin Luther King Jr., Harvey Milk, Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

The listed answers to the question "Who is your hero?" could go on forever. Why?
Because those who "inspire" us and "help" or "save" us can be anyone we choose.

Many have written about their heroes, and I enjoy hearing the stories. So... here are 2 of mine. Why bring them up now? Because they MIGHT be facing their mortality soon, and I'm not sure how I will react to their loss.

When I first met Luke Skywalker (SPOILERS FROM HERE ON), helping his uncle purchase droids, then later staring off into the setting twin suns of Tatooine, I was a child of about 6 or 7. (Little did I know that I had seen him twice before, both as a sleeping infant in my mother's lap for Empire Strikes Back and as a sleeping 3 year old for Return of the Jedi, but that's a story for another time...) Something about this teenage boy just stuck with me. He seemed out of place... stranded where he didn't belong, looking beyond the horizon for adventures yet to happen to him. What happened next for Luke is film history and well known to many. He saves the galaxy, becomes a Jedi, and ultimately defeats evil. To this day, I'm not sure if it was the idea of being the hero of the galaxy that appealed so strongly to me (much like my idolization of Ender Wiggin), or the mystery surrounding his father.

Every little boy grows up wanting to be the hero and save everyone. Just watch them play outside sometime. And while many boys have their father around when they grow up (at least many of my childhood friends did), I did not. Chris O'Dell, my birth father (whether he admits it or not) has never met me or acknowledged me, and I have never met him. (His loss really. :) )

First told that his father was a navigator on a spice freighter, then a Jedi in the Clone Wars, Luke grew up confused and without his father as well. During that first film, I was able to identify with him and sympathize with his plight, and that continued when the father's identity was revealed in Empire. Not much of a stretch to see my dad as the epitome of all evil, after all LOL.But Anakin's redemption in ROTJ? Struck me hard. Could my father be redeemed and forgiven for all the time he lost with me?

As Luke grew, so did I. He became leader of the Jedi Order, I became a husband and father... and now we have "old Luke" from the end of the new Star Wars, The Force Awakens. (Am I getting old? What is my legacy?) But the look in his eyes as he looks upon Rey still haunts me. He knows he's being brought back into the fold of all this galactic junk, but a new Jedi to train will allow his legacy to remain intact. Will he survive this conflict too, or will the new generation of Star Wars heroes reign supreme?

The scene with Han almost destroyed me... tears flowing and body shaking, openly weeping in the theater... and Han was never my favorite! Must I begin to prepare my heart for the loss of a hero whom I have practically worshipped for 30 years?

When I think about how I would react around Luke Skywalker if he were real, I know it could be friendly, but also with respect and reverence for his status and abilities. More like a mentor to me, because he's always been older and wiser than me.

Next blog I will write about someone who I've known almost as long, but met him at his birth and have walked the many paths and observed the many battles and adventures of his entire life. One of my greatest heroes and someone I would call best friend (if they were real LOL). Drizzt Do'Urden.

If you are reading these blogs and have comments, please leave them. Questions or requests are welcome as well. Like I said previously, this is an experiment for my mind... so your helpful feedback is valuable to me.

Adam

Where to begin...
I've never blogged before. I leave reviews on Goodreads and read blogs, but have never attempted to put my mind to words.
This experiment is to help sort out that overwhelming amount of fiction that flows through me.
First, a little about me (at least what I am willing to share at this point, and much more to come in the future):
    - Husband of 13 years
    - Father of 3
    - Aspiring Librarian-to-be
    - Ultra-Nerd specializing in: Star Wars, the works of R.A. Salvatore, Marvel and DC continuity in both page and screen, Walking Dead, Playstation gaming, and board games.
    - INFJ
    - Hard working, honest, open minded and usually very busy
    - Opinionated and occasionally judgemental or selfish

I realize that by hitting "publish", I open my mind to the world to see. But maybe, that's not such a bad thing.

More next time on me, plus a discussion on heroes.

Adam