When I was a kid Batman was my hero, I watched every episode of the old Adam West and Burt Ward Batman series episodes, and to me it was just like real life, although whenever I was fighting the bullies on the playground I never saw the words BIFF and POW above their heads as I swung my fists wildly in the air, I can say I saw stars many times, because after all they were bullies, and Batman wasn’t really there to save me.
As I grew up Batman was replaced, and for many of my longtime readers you already know the answer as to who my hero today is, for you who don’t remember check out The Snoopy Incident this post gives away the answer, yes I Love Snoopy and we all know he is real because I actually kissed him.
Actually as we grow up a lot of these childhood heroes are forgotten, but for Cindy and I once the Grandson was born we were quickly reintroduced to many superheroes and villains from our past, our children’s past, and now Benjamin’s present.
The last time I spoke to Benjamin on the phone I asked about Captain America, man that was mistake and I was immediately informed “Papa I like Leonardo”, OK I have this I thought, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, our boys liked them when they were young and I remember the names, so I said “so you like Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello too” he replied “No Papa, you know Leonardo, the one with the Blue mask”
Now Mimi is on the computer frantically buying up all the Ninja Turtle paraphernalia she can find, I have to keep reminding her you know Leonardo, the one with the Blue mask.
A few weeks back I ran across the old Batman series on TV, I sat down to relive my childhood and watch my old favorite program, after about five minutes I thought, Man this is kind of cheesy, no wonder I switched over to Snoopy, Peanuts is actually like real life and I can live with that.
We all need someone to look up to, be it our Parents, Grandparents, Children, Minister, Police officers, Firemen, Ninja Turtles, or even Snoopy, having a hero gives you hope when you need it, comfort when you are down, and a smile when you realize how cheesy that old program was, BIFF, POOF, POW all your problems away for a few minutes and be glad that we all can have someone or something to look up to.
Who was your childhood hero and do you still have a hero, imaginary or not?
Jimmy Brown, he was from the town I lived in at the time. He is probably the greatest athlete ever, broke race barriers in the movies, and is active in getting kids to better themselves.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Brown has always been his own man and takes crap from no one. In his day most people of his race had to put up with indignities, he would not.
Yes you have to respect and look up to a person like this, I can see why you chose him.
DeleteI'm trying to think who my heros were when I was younger. I would have to say my older brother, though he was only 17 months older than me. Really did look up to him and would just about do anything he wanted as far as what to play, etc. Now I think my hero is my husband for putting up with me the many years he has.
ReplyDeletebetty
Yes as for real live people certain family members would absolutely top the list, sounds like you have a couple of good ones on your list :)
DeleteHey Jimmy!
ReplyDeleteYou got me to thinking about this one.
I guess that I had two heroes. My grandmother from my family and from the rest of the world, my hero was Micky Mantle. I guess you could say I still have a hero. His name is Mike Trout. I'm not sure if you are a baseball fan or not, but this guy is doing things in the major leagues that NOBODY has ever done before. And he's just turned 23! I think part of it, is that he kind of looks like a young Mickey Mantle. As an added bonus, he plays for the Anaheim Angles, who just happen to be my local team. I hope they haven't jinxed him, but many old time baseball scouts claim that he is the best player they've ever seen. Yeah, okay, he's my hero!
Yes Mike Trout playing for the Angels is definitely a bonus for you, keeps him close to home in a sense and with him reminding you of Mickey Mantle is simply a win/win. One of my boys always liked Chipper Jones of the Braves I actually took him to see them play twice in Atlanta which for me was worth it just to see the look on his face.
DeleteYes Grandparents are always at the top of the list for many of us, because they definitely shape our futures for us by steering us in the right direction, my Great Grandmother was key in steering me.
My Mom is my hero. She was always so brave with everything she had to endure health-wise. I'd love to be just a little bit brave!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny that after we get grown that we realize what our parents actually went through to get us raised, like they say the older I get the smarter my parents become.
DeleteAs far fictional heroes go it was James T. Kirk and Spock. I've been a space cadet ever since. Real life? I guess it would have been the various members of my family on my mom's side.
ReplyDeleteKirk and Spock would be heroes that will keep you going as a space cadet, family members as far as real life goes are the best in my opinion.
DeleteI've never been able to come up with a hero, but I will admit that Snoopy is a darned good one.
ReplyDeleteOh Yes Snoopy is one you cant go wrong with ;)
DeleteJimmy, this post brought back so many wonderful memories. Yes, Batman was HUGE when I was a kid! And you're right, seeing those episodes now I think, "Man...these are kind of cheesy."
ReplyDeleteLOVE the photograph of Benjamin in his Captain America costume! Boy, he is certainly growing up fast. I remember when you posted photographs of him when he was a newborn.
My hero back then was Superman. Do you remember that TV show? And I always wanted to FLY like Superman.
Fun post, buddy!
Yes Sir the old cheesy TV episodes that we were glued to each week, man that was the life.
DeleteAnd as for Superman I don't know of a kid in our neighborhood that wasn't running around with a bath towel tied around his neck for a cape jumping off of things believing that we were actually going to fly.
Benjamin is sure growing up on us, can you believe that he is 4 already?
I liked The Fantastic Four and owned all the comic books. When they started making Fantastic Four movies I was excited at first, but the movies only served to remind me of how cheesy the comic books really were.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing the older we got the cheesier our childhood heroes became ha ha
DeleteI honestly can't claim any particular heroes, real or fictional. Role models, I suppose, but heroes, nah. Although i do like the Ninja Turtles if only for their cool names.
ReplyDeleteRole models I think we sometimes look on as heroes, good point there Abby
DeleteI like to see how the cartoons and such we liked as kids come back for our kids, like the Ninja turtles being popular when our kids were young and are now coming back for the Grandson.
Growing up with 4 older brothers, my heroes were Daniel Boone and James West (Wild, Wild West). I did watch Batman and Superman too. We grew up in the best of TV times I think!!
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to agree with you, it looks like we grew up in the same TV era and cheesy or not was better than a lot of programs our children are watching today.
DeleteMy hero was Pippi Longstocking!
ReplyDeleteI love the variety of heroes/role models everyone has mentioned, this is great.
DeleteThat is a wonderful question! I had a couple of teachers I considered super heroes!
ReplyDeleteYes teachers definitely rank up there as super heroes for sure.
DeleteI was a batman fan too. He always seemed to be at the right place at the right time.
ReplyDeleteR
I always thought it was really cool how he and Robin climbed up the side of buildings with the bat rope, never thinking how long that rope had to be and how good of an arm he needed to throw it that far.
DeleteThis is another one that spans generations because one of my boys looked up to Batman as much as I did when I was a kid.
Gosh, I don't recall ever having a hero but you have made me think back. All I came up with was my Dad, He wasn't a hero as such but he came close and I loved him to bits. My childhood years were war filled so comics were out of the question, and there was no television from which to develop hero worship. How sad is that.... grins.
ReplyDeleteValerie I think having your Dad in the role of hero and or role model was a good choice for you, nothing sad about that in my opinion.
DeleteJimmy, by sad I meant 'no television' ... Smiles
DeleteYes Mam I see that, sorry to have made it sound otherwise :)
DeleteAh, the Ninja turtles - my son used to adore them. Happy memories.
ReplyDeleteHi Bryan, yes my boys were also into the Ninja Turtles now the grandson, Happy memories for sure.
DeleteMy hero was my mother. But, my grandmother was, too. Actually my -g-grandmother was my hero and a role model since she attended four years of college from 1870 to 1874. My son had Snoopy and Superman and the Fonz for heros.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, Yes attending college from 1870 to 1874 is an impressive thing for a woman to accomplish, everyone should look up to and respect this quality in her, I can see why she is a role model for you.
DeleteThe Fonz I had let him slip my mind but he was another that a lot of people followed.
From the era when I was young, it'd be Pogo, another comic character. Currently, dunno. Some years ago it might have been Ralph Nader, but then he turned odd. Actual 'heros'......not many, in fact none. Everyone I've know has their faults and peccadilloes...a 'hero' has none, right? Comics are the only place they exist.
ReplyDeleteTrue that everyone has their faults and flaws and finding a hero without any would in fact be difficult, which is why we tend to lean towards fictional characters and give them a hero status I would guess.
DeletePogo now that is one I completely forgot about, thanks for remembering that one my friend.