by Ana L. Palles

I just got back from New York City where the media explosion over Spiderman week is starting. NY is a metropolis of heroes and thanks to Stan Lee, Spidey is one of New York’s own. This city of about 8 million people understand what heroes are all about as shirts, caps, and calendars featuring the NY Fire and Police Departments fill tourist’s bags. The spirit of New York is one of making your way, of thinking on your feet, and celebrating the overcoming of great odds. The courage demonstrated by the men and women of NY during 9/11 and its aftermath is honored and respected, yet taken much in stride. It is what New Yorkers have done each day, every day. They move forward, they take action, they make it happen. NY knows from heroes.

Each of us has what it takes to be a hero. While standing in line at the Cloisters museum, a father walked by with his son perched high upon his shoulders. You could see that it had been a long day for that dad, and yet the spring in his step and smile in his eyes truly lit up when the son patted his dad on the head and called out, “my dad is the strongest dad of all.” As my sister commented, all children should think that their dads are the strongest dads of all at least once in their lives.

Dads are often cast in the role of hero. They miraculously don’t tire as they carry assorted little bodies at various stages of exhaustion, packages, and the raiment’s of childhood: strollers, car seats, diaper bags and dollies that cry. They are expected to face down scary things like snakes, spiders, and mice and if an animal has died, they are expected to handle it. These are Dad tasks, and they handle them well. Quiet heroes, Dads, their children marveling at the size of their biceps and the breadth of their chest as sleepy heads press their tiny ears against the solidly beating heart. Deeper and different than what they heard in the womb, but familiar and just as comforting.

Our heroes make everything right with the world because somehow, they figure out how to handle whatever comes their way. When we realize the number of extraordinary demands on our ordinary lives, we notice subtle outlines in the design. The faces of passion, drive, determination, compassion and love surface from the background. In almost surrealistic silence, we recognize these heroes as our own. They are the faces staring back at us from across the room, the train aisle, and from the mirror. Welcome home, Spidey.