Thursday, September 25, 2008

Remembering a Hero

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to perservere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." -Christopher Reeve


When I was in the 7th grade, we had a fund raiser. The prize for selling was getting to watch a movie in the gym. Now, you need to understand, I'm old, and this was a time before there were DVD players, or even VCR's. ("What?" my children would ask, "was there really such a time?") We didn't even have cable TV, so watching a movie meant going to the theater, and we didn't do that much. So, I was excited, and I remember quite vividly sitting on the bleachers in the gymnasium and watching Christopher Reeve fly across the screen. He flew right by and stole my heart. I had a crush on him for years and when I found out that we shared a birthday, I knew it was fate. We were meant to be together. I mean, look at him, how could you not fall in love??

Of course, I grew up and realized my dreams would have to involve a man a little less 'super'. That's ok, I don't think I would have been up to living with the man of steel. Anyway, since today is our shared birthday, I was thinking about him and what an amazing man he was off screen. He had a charmed, wonderful life that was turned upside down. Yet, he didn't let it stop him and he worked just as hard, if not harder than when he was fully able. If you've never read his book, "Still Me" I would encourage you to read it. It's an incredible story and will make you very grateful for all that you have.
So, that's it. I just wanted to pay tribute to this wonderful man today. He brought me a lot of pleasure through the years with his acting and has given me inspiration by the way he lived.
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"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable." -Christopher Reeve

4 comments:

Deb said...

Happy Birthday to the both of you.

Sarah said...

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Jules, happy birthday to you! I love you big sis. Thanks for always listening to me complain and being one of my best friends! You're amazing.

Lia said...

Happy Birthday Julie! I really liked your quote. I too thought he was an incredible person. I don't know if I have it in me to face the trials he had and come out so much on top of it all.

Kim said...

I too found the man of steel a "hottie"...I could watch Somewhere in Time everyday and never get sick of it....love that movie! Happy Birthday Julie you are one "Super" woman!!