A Tribute to a Hero

What defines a hero? Webster defines a hero in many ways. One such way is "a man celebrated for special achievement and attributes." How you describe your own personal hero may be different--someone who "rescued" you or some-"thing" from certain doom or failure--whatever the reason for your hero, there never should be a need for explanation when asked who or why. A person has idols when they are growing up--someone so far removed from reality in that person's everyday world, that God himself is the only one with better traits. As one pursues personal growth and journeys the paths that are set before him/her--it becomes apparent, that the "idols" and ideas conformed as a youth, well, lets just say, one tends to "see through" the "masks" or "facades" that once saved us via television and/or comic books. What saved us "then" surely can't even begin to touch what one goes through in today's times! So, now, an older and wiser individual ventures life.....we get a job, we get married, have children....and not necessarily in any particular order.....we take life by storm! As we do, our new breed of hero emerges with us!

Coming out from virtually nowhere, our new hero enters our new life....coming to us at the most peculiar time and taking us by complete surprise. This new hero has been there all along, doing his/her job as an every-day routine, making a name for themselves...not realizing what they are doing is changing perspectives and affecting lives around them. You only recognize the hero now because sometimes life just does that to us....it slaps us in the face forcing you back to reality. You say to yourself upon discovering this new hero, "God, if this person has become this much of a success over all this time, then why can't I?" You wonder to yourself, why you never realized long before this, how wonderful this human being really was....not that they had EVER been less....you just never noticed until now. So at this moment, in MY life, to date, back in years....1994.....pregnant with my now 9 year old twin boys....I have discovered my brand of hero. I have resorted at this time of "stay at home mommy-ness" to go back to what I have always loved to do...and that is to read...anything....I love mysteries....but let's try something different I'm thinking.....maybe, biography selections.....but where to start.....let's actually "broaden those horizions". I had an English teacher, who later became a "mentor" in my High School ages, but he had said, that to truly allow your brain the exercise that it needs you need to go beyond the normal realm of what it's been used to. This man, had allowed my brain to become acquainted with the works of William Shakespeare. It may have started with "Romeo & Juliet" but it only progressed in the later years by reading all that I could from Shakespeare, then to realize in my Senior year, in British Literature class....that writing is really what I would love to do as my life's profession. So here I am in this point in my life pregnant with twins...my other two children in school all day.....so.....reading has become the escape I need to feel as though there is more to life than running errands, cooking, wiping noses, butts and whatever else needed done in my every day activities.
Broadening those horizions meant some kind of structure had to be surmised from my desire to just pick up "a biography". It can never be simple with me, as those who truly know me, I never go the simple route.....there has to be a challenge! I decide to arrange the biography reading project into alpha order.
I mean, hey, the "abc's" are okay for the kids...why not!
So I dig in, I found myself reading anything from Abigail Adams, Burt Bachrach.....the Kennedy's......to Donny Osmond, then it happened....I pick up a book called "Life on the Wire" by Andrew Yule. A biography of a great actor named Al Pacino. As I begin this book, being captivated immediately, I mean....I knew who Mr. Pacino was....who didn't (was my true thought).... I just never knew there was so much to this man.....So I read on.....the way he was raised as a child and in the formative years by his Grandparents truly spoke to me, because you see, I too had been raised by my maternal Grandparents (God rest their souls)....but to me, my Grandparents were the only ones who not only appreciated my creativity on my musical and acting abilities.....they allowed me to feed from it....so to speak...allowing me to put on "shows" for them.....As the biography talked of Al being so "hungry" to act, it said things I had been thinking inside for years.....it is a true desire to act, and if you don't allow yourself to get up there on that wire.....knowing below you, there could be no net.....well, you'll just feel like something is missing in your life......but what? I read this biography in no time......now, I have realized a new thing about Al Pacino......his true love is .....William Shakespeare and the live stage! This man is incredible.....I had recalled seeing "Scarface" as a Senior in High School....( I know, now you know how old I am).....and this can't possibly be the same man....but it was....I was hooked.

To say that I was impressed is an understatement. This man, who played such characters that I had remembered as being so "intense"....could also be Richard III....could read the sonnets in such a way that could melt butter?.....Now.....I have to know more! As I finished the book, I found myself wanting to see the films I have never seen before.....the older ones...... and some of the newer ones again....just to refresh my memory.....as I do this I also found that I could put my tribute to use on the internet.....I could reach others that maybe think and feel the way I did at that time.....that they knew "him" but not really......As I watch the films and do the homework needed.....it has become something of a discovery that Richard the Third was Al's favorite play....so I buy Looking For Richard.....This film was amazing....and gave me the epiphany needed to start my own site......I knew then, it was time to bring Al to the people.....I know, this sounds deep, because the man was already out there.....and who did I think I was....one person.....what could I ever do that others have never done? The explosion of the internet gave me the power and energy to reach others in the UK, Russia and even as close as Canada. I have proudly friends in all of those places now, and I couldn't say that years ago.....so, Al and all that he represents has in a way....brought culture and the world to my life as well....changing my perspective on not only acting, but life itself. With personal trials beyond anyone's beliefs, I can now approach things in a different way. My life as a busy---sometimes too busy----mother of four children---remember, I went from two to four! I can honestly say....I took this love to my kids.....I took this new attitude to pass it on to even my kids and their friends too. I began helping at my kids' school, founding the now annual "Fine Arts Appreciation Week".....dedicating my time and talent both as performer and coordinator of an event that these kids will be taking with them in more ways than they will ever know.....One parent came up to me, once and said, that if I had never done anything such as this her child would have probably never found the nerve to take on performing. This made me feel as though, I have completed the task I set out to do. I wasn't finished though.....this is on going.....its forever.....I will continue helping with the Arts Week, helping in any way possible.....because, like Al.....my love for the Arts and for the things that keep me "real" is timeless.