Who’s your hero?

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Several years ago this week, 22 to be precise, my hero crossed into eternity. I am her daughter. The loss of one’s parents can be devastating, is devastating.

For me, the net that always would catch me, the door that never closed on me, the love I could always be assured was there without question… well, you awake the following day after death and the whole world has changed. And while there is a kind of recovery, a healing, a wonderful personal, inner expansion of the self who now carries that hero, that beloved parent, spouse, friend or more… or more…. an inner expansion one day is a recognizable as that individual… still living within you. We do live forever, you know.

I have another hero, one I share with millions, a national (and sometimes international) hero whose superpowers express in his wordcrafting and his intelligent, great good heart. I’m talking about Keith Olbermann. Keith’s hero, his father, crossed over on Saturday. Keith is a fellow who puts it on line… he puts his money where his mouth is… he stands true to his ideals and words. He is not a liar and that is singularly one of the most spectacular feats’ in his profession that I can imagine (these days) one can account for. He has his folly’s, his canards and his mistakes and I’ve not once known him to dismiss or excuse them. Instead, he deals with them honestly, if humorously or not. His care for the community, the issues of moral value and fairness in American democracy are steadfast. And he’s a baseball freak and so am I. It was under those auspices that Keith told the world of his loss, his MLB blog; Baseball Nerd. (read Keith’s obit for his Dad).

Keith graduated a year ahead of me at Cornell University… I didn’t know Keith, knew vaguely of him because I took one or two of the same classes. Doc spoke of him in the radio tower… He was well thought of, best I can personally remember. I would have never remembered Keith Olbermann had not my little bat signal sister ‘turned me onto him’ a couple of years ago… on Countdown. One show and I was hooked. And here’s why:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Keith is my hero. Run into him on the street or at the local barrail and I might not personally be comfortable with him, but of this I am assured; he is one of the very few left of his ‘profession’ with a demonstrative integrity. Integrity. He is, as Ted Kennedy pointed out, a man with a well balanced moral compass in the uncharted waters of the eternal sea. Godspeed, Mr. Olbermann… you son is well loved.

About Post Author

Carol Bell

Carol is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Her passion is journalism and it shows. Carol is our unpaid, but very efficient, administrative secretary.
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14 years ago

morning Oso!
yea and beware the ides of March, eh? If I am fortunate, each day I find a new hero to admire.
So far today it’s 7am and dark still… up watching CNN (cuz I start the day cussing if I watch Morning Joe) and since I work from home, I often find these hero’s just outside my door. I think that’s pretty cool. Yes?
Mom’s do. Mom’s all through my neighborhood raising children and working…by themselves. Real hero’s… there are few Dad’s out there doing the same. Wish I knew more of them.

osori
14 years ago

Gwen,
I’m sorry you lost your Mom but I’m glad she was your hero. I’ll have to continue the trend here, my mom was a single parent who raised me, taught me to play baseball and ride a bike, taught me how to be a parent.
I hope she know that. I believe she does.

Olbermann is a great man, I remember him as a sports announcer in LA. Cornell-wow you went to a real school!

14 years ago

Yes, Jessica…. I get it. Me too. Will, I adore Greta! Yes, Demeur… it’s responsible to have a living will. I’ve had one since my mom crossed. I update as I should. More over… I’m going to assign a health care proxy in case my next / and current is not available.
Ta all for your comments!

14 years ago

Greta Garbo and Montgomery Clift – hands down. And, yes, increasingly so, Eric Cartman, too!

14 years ago

I stop to think of those who have left this world before me both friends and relatives and wonder if I’ll live up to the good things they left behind. We’re all but mere mortals even though we’d like to deny it. A will and a life directive are something to consider if you haven’t already something Keith was promoting on his show. Let’s hope his father’s passing will have greater impact on the national discussion on these issues. I’m sure that would be a fitting tribute.

Jessica
14 years ago

For me, it’s my parents, has been my parents and will continue to be my parents till I take that last breath. Taught me what is right and good and that we must be our brother’s keeper and be the change we all want in the world. Sadly, none of them are still here, but they still cause me to pause and ask myself what would they do and I try to emulate it. I had dirty hippies as parents, that gave me the world and told me I could do what I want, even though I am just a girl. Specially my daddy.

14 years ago

I only mentioned mine ’cause the old bat won’t shuffle off!!!!….well, it would be marvellous if she would!!!

14 years ago

4D / MM … I think it marvelous that you mention your Moms.
Bee… I know what you mean. But I honestly feel that I’m recovering now after my ‘bee therapy’… it worked so nicely. !!
happy sunday to y’all!

Bee
14 years ago

My hero changes from week to week, so I can’t really pick one. Right now, I can’t think of one, but I’ve got brain burn today 🙂

14 years ago

Homer Simpson by a clear mile!!!

My mother? That old bat will outlive me just to spite me!!

I ring her every day in the hope she won’t answer…

Reply to  fourdinners
14 years ago

I guess I would have to say my mother, although not all the time, and like 4D she is planning on outliving me for the same reason. She is 90 and still drives….Gawd help us all!

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