Heroes

How does someone define the term hero? Perhaps it can be defined as someone having superpowers. But come on now, how many people do you know that fly and have super strength? A better definition would be someone who has done something extraordinary.

Yesterday my brother invited me over to his house for dinner. After feeding me, we went outside on the patio and had a conversation, something that we normally don't have due to the lack of free-time. This conversation, at the time, felt like a lecture. My brother made the observation that my dad hasn't been the same in the last little while. He looks tired and worn. My brother insists that part of the reason is that, even though my dad is 70 years old and should be retired and living the good life right now, he is working two jobs trying to support his family. He went to my brother and complained a little while ago that I spend more money than I make. I can attest to that fact because I just took a look at my most recent credit card statement. It doesn't look pretty.

I won't get into the details of the conversation, but my brother did tell me a few stories about Dad. There was one in particular that really made me get misty-eyed. When my brother was about 16 years old, he came to Canada from Greece. After school he went and visited my Dad at work. My Dad stopped to talk to his son and offered to make him something to eat. At that moment, Dad's boss passed by and just gave him this look that said "Get back to work you mongrel." My Dad, being the guy that he is, swallowed his pride and went back to work. It takes balls not to say anything to that prick. My Dad knew at the time he had a family to support and that he couldn't afford to lose that job.

Ever since my Dad immigrated to Canada more than 40 years ago, he has worked 2 jobs. My brother couldn't recall any time where he only had one job like a regular blue-collar fellow.

Another story that he told me also says something about my Dad's character. When he first immigrated here, he held a few factory jobs, and one of them was working in a tire factory on an assembly line. One day, while at work, a tire fell on a guy that my Dad worked beside. My Dad picked him up and 911 was dialed, ambulance came, took him to the hospital, and because of his injury he had to take 8 months off of work to recover. The owners of the factory came to my Dad and another guy that worked the same line (and who were present at the time of the accident) and told them the insurance adjusters were coming. They informed the two employees that they will be asked where and how the accident happened. They were told to say: "He fell outside of the factory" so that the factory wouldn't have to pay compensation. If they told the truth, they would lose their jobs. That was the threat. Sure enough, the adjusters came and asked my Dad what happened, and he told them the truth, that a tired fell on the man. My Dad understood that, although he would lose his job over this, the injured man had a family that he needed to support, and he would need the compensation to do that. My Dad was fired the next day.

Nobody ever helped my Dad when he first moved to Canada. Even in Greece, nobody ever lent him a hand, he always did everything on his own. During his life, though, he has helped everyone. From my Mom's sisters, to his own siblings, to his children, and even strangers.

My Dad may piss me off, and say things that he shouldn't, but that's just the way he is. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, and you can't change an old man's ways. I have learned to love him for who he is. And as cliche as this may sound, when someone asks me who my hero is, I can proudly say that it's my Dad.