Mountains Out of Mole Hills

Mountains Out of Mole Hills

For many years, I was extremely talented in making mountains out of mole hills.  In fact, my Mom would always tease me and say that I was making too much of an issue out of something that really wasn't that big of one.  I would always sneer and say yeah right, and continue on with trekking through the "lawn" that was infested with mole hills of my own creation.  

I worried constantly, and then worried about my worrying.  I was the perfect example of circular logic or a dog chasing its tail.  I used to make my parents frustrated because all they would hear from me was about my worries, over and over again; every day, wash, rinse and repeat.  

I was consumed by my worries!  If my hair was frizzy and didn't look right I thought I was ugly and worried about that.  If my beau said something off color to me, or teased me about something, I would worry that they really thought of me that way.  I'd worry about work, I'd worry about my cats, I'd worry about money, my car, how was I going to pay rent, whether or not my friends really liked me, was I really that shallow of a person, where was I going with my life, what did I want to do with myself, was I being a good daughter, were my parents proud of me; you get the idea. Pretty much anything that one can worry about I certainly did.  And my worries that started as mole hills escalated into insurmountable mountains!  I was a wreck, although I didn't know that and I carried on this way for years.  

Then one day, I really truly did have a realistic worry that was truly a mountain, that being my dad going into the hospital for what would be the last time.  To keep a long story short, my dad had a myriad of health issues that he dealt with for over 17 years.  He was a long time dialysis patient in kidney failure, he had a chronic heart condition, and emphysema.  Basically, anything that could go wrong with a human body did in his case.  Yet through each health issue he fought valiantly through it with truly a minimal bit of worry.  He overcame the issue; we all did.  It goes without saying that I also worried about my Dad's health all of the time.   

In 2010, when I was in fact faced with the biggest worrying event possible, instead of reverting to chasing my own tail and spinning out of control, I was calm and dealt with the facts as they arose.  After 17 years of fighting and overcoming the obstacles, my Dad was given some very hard news, and he bravely decided to stop health treatment.  We lost him a few days later when he was under the wonderful and amazing care of the Hospice facility. 

For some reason I wasn't worried about his passing.  For some very strange reason I was calm and accepting of something that was so utterly devastating.  I won't lie I was an emotional wreck after he died, but my Mom and I supported, loved and hugged each other through the dark places, and we both emerged from our grief missing my Dad terribly, but realizing that life must go on.  

That calmness and lack of worrying as stuck with me ever since.  Its weird, but in facing what was truly a mountain, and not a make believe one, it helped to teach me what is really important in this life.  So while I may feel myself reverting to my old worry habits from time to time, I just remember that calmness and embrace it as fully as I can.  I try not to worry about the small stuff as much, and my "lawn" is now almost free of mole hills.  I still have my crazy worry days from time to time, I guess its my gift to make mountains out of mole hills, but I have learned to not let those worries control me and to know the difference between the real mountain and the fake ones.  

Wolf Friendship

Wolf Friendship

The Retirement Home for Elderly Wolves was set in the farthest reaches of the wolf community, and only the wolves that could either afford the long trek or were especially dedicated pups would visit their parents and grandparents that were residents.  Wolfe never had any visitors.  He often felt that the entire wolfing community had forgotten his existence, even though he was one of its most infamous members; even more than that other wolf who happened to be full of hot air and had a distinct taste for pork.  No, Wolfe, was not surprised that he had become an outcast.  In fact, he could have predicted it, even before the events of that fateful day, when all he wanted was some simple friendship and maybe to ask a question of a little girl wearing a red hood.

Wolfe had always been a lone wolf among his kind.  Since his youth he disdained wolf packs and their resultant pack mentality.  He could never quite understand why wolves felt the desire to belong in a group that was based on your ranking within the pack and not based on mutual friendship and respect.  Wolfe knew instinctively that if he joined a pack he would rank as the Omega, the bottom most wolf, who would have to eke out his survival on the scraps left behind by the other higher ranking wolves.  He couldn’t have stood being ridiculed and the butt of the jokes from his fellow pack members.  So given Wolfe’s strong sense of individuality, independence and dislike for wolf packs, Wolfe decided to go it alone; which placed him on the fringe of wolf society.  During his youth, Wolfe explored far and wide in the forests and valleys that surrounded his home.

Wolfe was also different from his brethren, in that he was of a philosophical nature.  He always tried to learn the inner workings of the forest and the lives of the creatures living there.  Wolfe was full of questions and often spent days trying to communicate with the woodland creatures.  He wanted to know their thoughts on family, how they survived in the woods, and most importantly what they believed friendship meant; was true friendship based on mutual respect or simply your ranking in the group.  Yet, given that Wolfe was in fact a wolf, many of the animals he tried to speak with ran from him in fear before he could utter his first words to convey that he meant them no harm.  Wolfe spent many years in this fashion and only a few of the bravest woodland creatures would deign to converse with him, mainly bears, bobcats and panthers.  Wolfe’s knowledge grew and he began to wonder more about friendship; it was something he wanted to experience for himself. 

During his travels Wolfe also had opportunities to observe and study humans from a distance.  He watched them at work, at play and caring for their families.  He watched their interactions with each other that were often based on the respect and love that he envisioned as the true meaning of friendship.  Humans were independent, yet they decided to forge bonds with their families and friends by their own choice, which suited Wolfe’s beliefs.  He decided that he would like to speak to a human and ask them how they achieve such a state and what, their meaning of friendship was.  Yet, Wolfe knew that humans feared wolves, so he needed to devise a plan in which he could approach one in a non-threatening way.  Wolfe also believed that he could have a human as a friend, and by having that, his desire for friendship would be resolved, and he would have chosen it based on the respect and affection that he felt for humans, and not on the pack mentality and ranking that were practiced by his kind. 

It just so happened that one day Wolfe came across a cottage.  He was quite surprised to see a human dwelling this far out in the wilderness.   He stopped to observe the activities of the homestead for several days.  Wolfe was able to determine that an elderly woman lived alone in the cottage.   He heard her singing and talking to herself.  He learned that the woman had a young granddaughter that she loved beyond words, and that her granddaughter would be coming to visit her in the next few days.  Wolfe felt that this little girl was his best opportunity to form a friendship with a human.  After all, he had come to understand that it was the youngest of the species that were the most open to exploration and the impossible, and what was more impossible than a wolf approaching a human in friendship.   Wolfe believed that it had something to do with the young’s’ endless curiosity and sense of adventure; so he decided to use those traits to his advantage in trying to make friends with this young girl.  No matter how much Wolfe despised doing it, and believe me he did, he felt that he had to eat the elderly woman; dress in her night clothes and hide in her bed to await the arrival of the girl.  His reasoning for doing this horrible act was that he thought that it would be less traumatic and terrifying for the girl if he presented himself in something familiar like wearing her grandmother’s clothing.

Well, as the story goes, Wolfe’s intentions were not well received, and that little witch of a girl, that Red Riding Hood as it were, raised such a ruckus over Wolfe that her cries of alarm brought a nearby huntsman to the little whelp’s aide.   The huntsman and Wolfe fought relentlessly all while Wolfe tried to speak to the huntsman and the wench to tell them of his peaceful intentions and that he meant no harm.   The huntsman would hear none of it and after succeeding in knocking Wolfe unconscious; he pushed him down into a well to drown him.  Yet, another of Wolfe’s great talents was his ability to hold his breath for a long period of time.  Wolfe was awoken as soon as he hit the water.  He knew that his only chance of survival was to make the huntsman and girl think that he had drowned and wait for them to leave, which they eventually did.  As soon as the mean-spirited girl and murderous huntsman left, Wolfe extracted himself from the icy water, shook his coat and made for the woods where he licked his wounded pride and eventually returned home.  Wolfe, who had previously respected humans so much, began to despise them as much as he did wolf packs. 

That horrible child’s tale of Wolfe spread like wildfire throughout the human settlements, and soon the wolves in the community learned of Wolfe’s ultimate humiliation.  Wolfe, who refused to join a pack because of his fear of obtaining the lowliest rank and disdain for the wolf ways, realized his worst fears when he found that he had in fact obtained the lowest status possible due to his misadventures with that girl.  Wolfe became the laughing stock of the community.  No other wolf would approach him without sneering at him and mocking him for preying elderly humans who couldn’t defend themselves and denying his wolf nature by not joining a pack and remaining with his own kind.  His fellow wolves believed that Wolfe thought he was better than them by trying to seek friendship with humans.  Wolfe was humiliated and became very bitter.   He moved out into the far reaches of the wolf community and lived on his own; his dreams of true friendship and understanding were forever dashed.

As Wolf reached his elderly years he could no longer maintain his solitary life and he became a member of the Retirement Community for Elderly Wolves.  By now enough time had passed that Wolfe was no longer mocked as incessantly and he experienced a calm, almost happy existence.  Wolfe passed away one night alone and friendless. 

Yet, some remnant of Wolfe survived when wolves recounted his story to their pups as a lesson to not mix with humans because they will only try to hurt you.  But mostly in retelling Wolfe’s tale they were trying to teach a lesson that friendship is different among humans and wolves.  To a wolf being in a pack is a high honor.  Each pack member plays an integral part in the friendship, bonding, and love that the wolf pack maintains.  Wolfe believed himself to be a loner, when in fact, no wolf is an island, and being a member of a pack is the best form of friendship that a wolf can ever have. 

Super Bowl

For starters, I don't really follow sports, either baseball, football, hockey, lacrosse, beer pong, golf, tennis or any other sport that eat up the hours and fascination of others, but given my flat out ignorance, there is one time of the year that I do actually want to watch a sporting event and that's the Super Bowl.  

While watching the Super Bowl last night I will admit that I was disappointed with some of the commercials that aired.  I only teared up twice, and laughed a half dozen times.  It's not to say that the commercials were bad, but they seemed to be just that commercials   I remember Super Bowls in the past where I was on the floor laughing loudly with tears streaming down my face (mainly during the Doritos commercials), sitting there in awe as I listened to the narrator of the commercial reminding me of what makes America a wonderful nation (the Chrysler “It’s Half Time in America” for sure), and watching footage with my heart in my throat as our brave troops were being united with their families and friends.  During past Super Bowls  I have been moved to tears, uttered cries of joy, and felt a deep pride as I watched commercials that captured what is good, bright and wonderful about this land that we call home.

There were a few occasions during last night’s Super Bowl that I was touched, but not to the extent as years past.  I did tear up during the Jeep commercial that intoned that we are whole as a nation again with the return of our troops and that is most assuredly true.  Freedom isn't free, and it is their service, dedication, and honor that make it possible for the rest of us to watch the Super Bowl in the first place.  I also teared up at the Budweiser Clydesdale commercial.  As always Budweiser delivered a touching heart-warming story that made me smile.  Does anyone recall the Budweiser tribute after 9-11?  It’s been a dozen years, but each time I watch it, as I did last night, I am moved.  The only other commercial that gave me pause was the Dodge Ram commercial with Paul Harvey's narration of God making the farmer, which is so very true.  It is the farmers, along with our military, that keep our nation both safe and well-fed.  

I will also admit that that I did watch the game in between the commercials and I was glad to see the Ravens kick the 49ers butts!  It was a good game and, who knows, maybe I'll take a more active interest in fooseball, err, football next year.  What is the difference between a first and fourth down anyway?!  I hear the sportscasters chattering away, and it is really all Greek to me, but I am open to learning.

The moral of my ramble is this, the Super Bowl is the one night of the year we all pause to watch a football game.  Divisions are set aside (with the exception of picking opposite teams of course), and we are united as a nation.  The Super Bowl helps us to remember what makes us great: dedication, determination, honor, laughter, and hope.  For 90 minutes we stand together, no matter where we are, to watch the greatest sporting event of the year.  The Super Bowl and the commercials remind us of how strong and united we truly can be.  I'm proud to be an American every day, but on Super Bowl Sunday I feel a connection with my fellow Americans, and I have to say that’s pretty damn cool!  

Shades of Love

Shades of Love

Melissa Dallago

            Love is the greatest, most wonderful emotion that mankind has; it motivates us, it consumes us, it drives us to distraction, it is both a sickness and a cure, it is unconditional, it is nurturing, it is everything and all that truly matters. 

            Love comes in many shades, kinds and variations; it is a universal emotion that each and every one of us understands.  It brings us together, drives us apart, conquers vast divides, and empowers us to perform unimaginable feats. 

            Love of family is the strongest and most enduring kind.  The love of a parent for a child is intense, protective, grand, and perhaps the most powerful force on earth.  It has been said that loving a child is like having a piece of your heart existing outside of you.  The love between a parent and a child is intense, everlasting and above all unconditional.

            Love between siblings is equally as powerful and binding.  There will always be someone who understands you, loves you, accepts you, and has been with you through all of your highs and lows.  The love between siblings is also unconditional, because even if you don’t see eye to eye, you still love them because they are family after all.

            Love between friends is supportive, understanding, and compassionate.  It endures no matter the distance or time that passes.  Friends bonded together are true to each other in good times and bad.  They offer a shoulder to lean on, a person to laugh will, or just a quiet presence of someone who cares.

            Love between humans and animals are another special pairing.  Our pets are our friends through thick and thin.  Their love is unconditional and a strong bond of mutual affection, soft fur and times of play and laughter abound.  It is truly the love of an animal that can teach the meaning of unconditional love and acceptance.

            The love between two people who find their way to each other on their journey through life is one of partnership, mutual respect, endearment and a deep passion for one another.  To share a true love with another is to achieve a wonderful bond, one that hopefully is unbreakable and forever. 

            These are the different shades of love that we experience as we travel through life, but one shade of love that defines them all is “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.”  It is love in all of its forms that bind us together. 

Technological Nightmares

I have always considered myself pretty savvy when it comes to technology.  I understand the fundamentals of how computers work and I can function in Microsoft Windows 8 without an issue.  I was proud of myself on the day I set up my first Wi-Fi network, although it took me half a day of scratching my head and reading the directions repeatedly, but once I got it up and running my internet hummed along quite nicely. 

I’m even capable of hooking up a small entertainment system that includes a DVD player, cable box, gaming system and television without too much trouble.  I was able to install, play and thrive in an online computer videogame.  My addiction of choice was World of Warcraft, which I played incessantly for over five years.  I have since retired from the online realm and have re-engaged in “real life”, as we gamers like to say, because it is infinitely more interesting than the pixelated world created on my computer monitor (see I do know techy words!).  Based on these achievements I thought that I was advanced enough in technology to be able to survive in the environment; at least I thought I was until this past weekend when I felt like I was starring in a Star Trek episode exploring where no man (excuse me, woman) has gone before. 

Right after Christmas my boyfriend David and I decided to upgrade to a DVR system to record our favorite shows, and TiVo was our service of choice.  At first it seemed like it would be very easy to install TiVo and upgrade our system, but boy were we wrong.  This “simple project” has since evolved into a living technological monster that lurks in the wires and Wi-Fi system in our electronics; it is the proverbial “ghost in the machine”. 

In going through this process I have learned just how much of a technological nincompoop I really am, which trust me is not good for one’s ego.  Just in the past week I have learned about N-routers versus G-routers, Z-waves versus broadband, infrastructure networking upgrades, bytes, bits, data, fiber optics, broadband, terabytes, petabytes, yottabytes (yes it’s a word, Google it if you don’t believe me), gigabytes, terabytes, TiVo, Sonos sound systems, calibrating Wi-Fi routers, USB cords, fire wires, parallel ports, upgraded, downgraded, quad cores, Fios, and the holy grail of internet speeds, 75 megabytes per second.  I’ve learned so much that my head is ready to explode! 

We’ve also had the old standby of screaming in frustration over a pixelating television screen, spending hours and hours on the telephone with customer service trying to “just make the damn thing work,” and cursing streaks that would make a sailor blush!  My head is spinning from the technology nightmare that we have entered. 

The outcome after all of these efforts is that TiVo does in fact work, but our picture quality is horrible and our Wi-Fi is on par with an asthmatic ninety year old trying to run a marathon.  Our Smart phones have become dumb, our Wi-Fi routers now suffer from an acute case of attention deficit disorder (huh, what, you wanted to actually go on the internet now), and our security system has taken an extended coffee break; basically nothing is working right, but at least we have TiVo.  Whew!

In my opinion its rather comical how in our technologically advanced world when you try to upgrade one portion of your system, everything else is knocked out of whack.  The systems don’t want to play with each other, let alone share, electronics just decide to stop working for no apparent reason, and sometimes I feel like my Droid DNA is just throwing a temper tantrum on par with a three year old.  I am now afraid to push any button, let alone the infamous red one, in case I hear an announcement that “this system will self-destruct in 15 seconds”.  The bottom line is we are not out of the technological woods yet, but we are hopefully seeing a light at the end of the tunnel; its either that or an approaching blue screen of death!

Throughout this whole endeavor, David has been valiantly fighting the technological monster that is lurking in our house.  He has beaten it into submission several times, but it has not yet been vanquished.  There is still plenty of reboots, re-configuring and recalibration going on to keep him busy.  I’ve pretty much just given up hope that our system will just work, but my honey, being the networking and computer genius that he is, has not yet given up on beating the monster once and for all, that or at least declaring a truce. 

The moral of this rant is this: no matter how much we like to consider ourselves as technologically advanced with our smart phones, laptops, z-waves, and what have you, when it comes to actually trying to make these wonders of modern technology work and integrate into our lives, we are no better than primordial man trying to make fire.  We like to think that we are the masters of technology, but I think, like in the movie The Matrix, we are slaves to the machines.  Ain’t technology grand!  

Tolerance

                                                           Tolerance

We recently had a group of protesters in Safety Harbor that caused quite an uproar between people of opposing political viewpoints.  This is what I posted in response to some of the comments that were being made....

The old adage, "it takes all kinds to make the world go around" is especially appropriate to the events that occurred in Safety Harbor yesterday.  I will tell you from the beginning that I do not agree with those people at all.  If I had been in the Harbor yesterday and came across their table I would probably have quipped some snarky remark such as there are more horses’ asses in the world than there are horses and moved on.  I would have been upset with their statements and signs, but I also know that nothing that I could have said would have changed their opinions and beliefs.

For the record, I used to be a staunch supporter of George H.W. Bush.  He could have done no wrong in my eyes.  I supported him blindly, and was a good little Republican Party member.  I used to proudly state my political opinions to everyone who would listen to me, and there were numerous occasions when I went toe to toe arguing with protesters who were protesting the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and then one day I picked up a book that opened my eyes.  That book was 1776 by David McCullough.

To those who may not have read it, it chronicles the struggles of our Founding Fathers as they tried to find a way to create a country from nothing; a country that was based on independence, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  I will acknowledge, although not discuss it here, that of course there were economic reasons for independence, and of course there was the issue of slavery, that frankly is a terrible blot on our history, that the Founding Fathers took into consideration, but more importantly they had a grander vision.  The country that we proudly call the United States of America is a result of their hard work and dedication to creating something bigger and more meaningful; a country based on those principals stated in the Declaration of Independence and the preamble of the Constitution. 

After finishing 1776, my appetite for knowledge grew and I devoured every book and article I could lay hands on; no subject was beyond my reach.  I took Benjamin Franklin’s advice, “[that] the only thing more expensive than education is ignorance” to heart.  I even struggled with economic theory when the housing bubble popped and I realized just how bad our economy truly is.  I don't profess to be an expert on any subject, but I am comfortable enough with my knowledge to be able to make rational decisions.  In other words, when the proverbial "s***" hit the fan, I didn't run around screaming my head off that the sky was falling, but instead I turned to books written by scholarly authors, read the actual bills being put forth by the House and Senate (even though they didn’t), and picked apart the executive orders being created by Bush and Obama.  I educated myself to the best of my ability about the subjects at hand, and that is where my belief, as the Founding Fathers believed, that an educated populace is the best hope for our country.  I also grew up politically speaking.  Instead of attacking someone for not agreeing with me, I developed a tolerance for those people that some may deem as "yahoos".  My political opinions became something that I guarded very closely, and I still do. 

I'm sure that I will be attacked by those who disagree with me for what I have said in this post, but before you vilify me, the author, I ask that you just pause for a moment with your hands poised over the keyboard and try to take in the spirit of what it is that I am writing here.  I do not agree with group that was here yesterday, but I do respect their right to speak their beliefs.  I agree to disagree with them, and move on with my day.  Others will voice their opinions to their faces, and I respect them as well.  We certainly need to stand up for what we believe and not be cowered by those who happen to disagree with us, but it is my opinion that through patience, respect and tolerance of opposing beliefs that are based on reason, facts and frankly reality, that a middle ground can be reached and true progress can be made. 

Just so we're clear on my political stance, I am a registered Independent who voted for Obama.  I did not base my decision on party affiliations or the bromide spouted by the candidates.  I voted for Obama after much deliberation, research and thought on my part.  I will also proudly say that I am a staunch supporter of education, reason, common sense, and active involvement in the governmental process.  We need to speak our opinions and beliefs; yet we also need to be respectful and tolerant of each other because after all wouldn't you agree with me that it is through the debate process that the work of our society really gets done!

I will close with a quote from my favorite Founding Father, Ben Franklin, "The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.” 

Rise!

Rise!

Melissa J. Dallago

Batman has been an American icon for well over fifty years.  He has spawned countless comic books, movies, cartoons and television shows.  Everyone knows Batman, and while they may not have watched the shows or read the comic books, they know that he is the rich playboy Bruce Wayne, who likes to dress up as a bat at night while he fights crime in his hometown of Gotham City.  

Batman has always been my favorite comic book hero.  I grew up watching the live show of Batman starring Adam West.  I enjoyed watching Batman chasing the Joker, lusting after Catwoman, and sharing boyish banter with his sidekick Robin.  I cheered for Batman when he bagged the bad guys, and I loved the goofy special effects that happened during the fight scenes.  The show had a campiness about it, but, in my opinion, it only added to its charm.  As I grew up, I remained connected with Batman.  I devoured any comic book that I could lay hands on.  I sat raptly for hours on end watching Tim Burton’s Batman movies, and childishly cheering at the screen when I saw Batman save Vicki Vale and put an end to the Joker.  We had a dry spell for a few years, but thanks to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, the bat is once again large and in charge.

I enjoy the Batman character because he is a superhero who isn’t really super.  He doesn’t have powers that he was born with, a la Superman, or bestowed by a spider bite, a la Spiderman, and he isn’t the victim of some genetic mutation, a la the X-Men.  Batman is an average guy who can suffer horrible injuries and even die in heated battle.  Yet, to me, something about his averageness makes him stronger than the man of steel, more adept at fighting crime, and more willing to sacrifice for what he believes in.  Batman is just a man, but he is a bad ass just the same.

Batman is the way he is because his parents died in a horrific tragedy that left him an orphan under the care of the family’s butler Alfred.  He was forced into a realm of anger and darkness with the loss of his parents and as he grew into a man, he was horrified with the wrongs and injustices that were being perpetrated by the criminals on the innocent.  He channeled his anger that was raging inside him, and harnessed it into a higher ideal to fight crime, bring down the bad guys, and instill a sense of hope in those suffering in Gotham City.  Batman is a masked vigilante; a presence in the night offering a safe harbor to those who are lost, suffering and in danger, and most importantly, Batman is a symbol that strikes fear in the hearts of the criminals.  Batman accomplishes all of this, and so much more, by sacrificing himself to a higher ideal.  He is a symbol of greatness, a bright beacon shining in the dark night; a symbol that offers hope to all.  Batman is the Dark Knight, who ironically, shines a bright light into the darkness of which he is a part of. 

Batman is relentless in his quest to stop injustice; he fights his nemeses with every shred of his being, and even when it was clear that he is outmaneuvered or not going to win the contest, he somehow always does because he never stops hoping.  Hope is what makes Batman the best superhero there is.  With his sacrifices, Batman gives the people of Gotham City hope; to me this is what Batman truly represents, hope persevering and rising from the darkness that surrounds us.

I recently watched the last installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.  I have watched each movie and been emotionally moved.  Nolan portrays the dark side of Batman.  He reveals the true darkness that lurks in the world, and demonstrates the inherent goodness that exists within all of us.  He portrays Batman as a true symbol of goodness.  With these movies, Nolan was successful in returning America’s icon to his rightful place, and most importantly Nolan depicts Batman as a mere man struggling under the weight of tremendous forces, but never giving up hope. 

I wish that Batman wasn’t just a comic book character; I wish he was real, made of flesh and bone.  I think we need a real Batman to be that symbol of hope in a chaotic dark world.  Batman is known for swooping in in the nick of time to save the day, and I wish that he had been there on that terrible day in Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut to save the 27 souls who needlessly lost their lives, but then again, maybe Batman was.

After all, what about the school principal who lunged at the gunman to try to stop him and lost her life, what about the survivors who remained calm in the face of a madman, what about the teachers that barricaded themselves and their charges into closets and corners and kept them focused on coloring to provide a buffer from the living nightmare surrounding them, and what about the small boy who was brave enough to tell his teacher that he knew karate and it would be okay.  Yes, I have to say that the essence of Batman was there that tragic day because somehow they never gave up hope that the good guys were on their way. 

Batman is an American ideal, a symbol.  To me, Batman represents truth, vigilance, relentlessness, justice, honor, empathy, compassion and loyalty.  Batman may not be a real man dressing up as a bat to fight crime, but the spirit of Batman, the ideals he represents most certainly do exist.  As said by Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins, “I’m going to show the people of Gotham that the city doesn't belong to the criminals and the corrupt.  People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy.  I can't do this as Bruce Wayne.  A man is just flesh and blood and can be ignored or destroyed.  But as a symbol... as a symbol, I can be incorruptible, everlasting.” 

The ideals that the Batman symbolizes reside in all of us, we just need to be reminded of them, and believe in ourselves.  We stand up for what we love the most, fight for ourselves, our families and our friends, we trust in those who deserve it, we honor our ideals and morals, and we respect each other even if we may not agree.  Evil and the darkness will always be around us as unfortunately that is part of life, yet what is most important about what Batman symbolizes is hope and goodness, and that hope is something that we must never, ever lose.  We must have hope in the goodness of ourselves and each other. 

As long as we have that, then just maybe this world could become a little more secure, a little more calm, and most of all, it could shelter and encourage the highest and best that is within us.  Like the survivors from that horrible day, they never gave up hope in the face of the gates of hell that had opened around them.  Batman was there that horrible day, as he is each day when darkness encroaches in our lives.  And much like the tag line from the Dark Knight Rises, hope has been temporarily lost, our faith may be broken, but a fire has risen in us.  Like Batman we must rise above the darkness, surround ourselves with goodness and love, and most importantly we must never give up hope in believing in something bigger than ourselves, a symbol like Batman, one that stands for inherent goodness and a belief that light will always overcome darkness.  Rise!