When I was young I remember watching Saturday morning cartoons like Justice League of America, Thundercats and Masters of the Universe. I used to play with Superhero Action Figures as I created major battles on the living room carpet. As I moved on to other things the action figures were put up in the attic. I remember my dad saying, “one day your son will want to play with them.” I thought he was crazy but if he wanted to keep them, it was okay with me.
It turns out my dad was a pretty smart guy. My son, Ryan, is four years old and he loves Superheros. He’s a big fan of Captain America, Superman and Batman. Everyday he asks me to play “guys” with him. We have conversations between Superheros that starts off with “What’s up man? Did you eat breakfast?” to “How come you have a red cape and I have a blue cape?” Seemlingly simple questions but yet filled with the deep thoughts of a four year old. If life could be so simple……..
Two years ago this coming March I was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. My world came screeching to a halt. Ryan was a little over two years old and my wife and I were expecting our second child in July. (Brooke is now 18 months old.) When you hear the words “You have cancer” your life flashes before your eyes. You fear the worst. You go through the “Why me?” stage, the denial stage and then eventually the “I’m going to beat it stage.” When you have children, you go into pure survival mode. I took on a persona as I started my treatments that has helped me throughout the process. Since day one in the hospital I wore a Superman shirt. The “Man of Steel” has been my identify for past two years. I inspire to be a hero. A hero to my family, my friends, the people I have met in the hospital and people who are going through the same treatments that I am.
You see, as fathers, Superman lives in each one of us. We are superheros. We are heroes to our children. They think we can do anything. Whether we can jump two stairs at a time or leap small buildings in a single bound, it doesn’t matter to them. They admire everything we do and watch with amazement. Whether you are having a bad day at work or fighting cancer, to them. the bad guys never win and dads never have a bad day.. We are “Men of Steel.” Whatever happens when we go to work, when we return home we have our kids who adore us, look up to us and aspire to be just like us.
One of Ryan’s Captain America figures says “Courage makes a hero.” I asked Ryan, “Is Daddy your hero?” He replied, “Yup.” I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some “Kryponite” stop me.
This past weekend I took out some old HeMan figures out of the attic at my parent’s house. My son’s eyes lit up and a smile took over his entire face. “Daddy, will you play guys with me?” Ryan asked. I ran over and gave my Dad a big hug. “Aren’t you glad we kept them,” he said.
I would say that he had no idea how happy I was…..but I’m sure he did.