Superman is Real!

                        Superman is Real!

You will be growing up in a different world than I experienced as a child. Smart phones are getting smarter, video games are getting more and more realistic, and there’s a super hero movie out for every kind of person. When I was growing up, there was only Batman (to which your aunt Suzy and I still quote to this day). I was always a Superman fan, however. Unlike other super heroes, Superman doesn’t fight crime because of a loss of a family member, friend, or tragic event that occurred to him. Superman helps out because he can. He was given a gift and chooses to help others.

Why do I mention this you may be asking? Well you’re about to get to meet some of my favorite, real life super heroes soon that are much like Superman! The first one is your Papa – my dad. You need to realize that you’re Papa has never, ever used a bad word in front of me. I kid you not! He wouldn’t even say the word “breast”. When we would go out for chicken, your Papa would order a “chicken chest”. I, of course, would make the situation worse by going behind him and ordering a “chicken boobie”. He was much more than just his words though. He was a man of action. When your Papa found out the place that held the local Cub Scouts wouldn’t continue to allow us to meet there if we welcomed more African American kids, he started a whole new group at our church. He didn’t want me or any other boy to be a part of hate. He also, since he was a minister, found a way to go to camp with me when I was younger so I wouldn’t get home sick. For a few years, he even drove up from Savannah to see a Mets game with me when they were in Atlanta. He didn’t know anything about our team, little to nothing about what was going on that year, but he did like one thing a lot…me.

When I moved to NYC, the relationship changed. I was still my father’s son but I didn’t need him as much. He let me grow up and fly away from the nest. I still saw him and your Diva when they came to see your Aunt, Uncle, and cousins but that was about the extent of it.

It was then I really got to know my second favorite super hero – your Uncle Tim. Your Uncle has been married to your aunt forever. Seriously - look up “forever married” and there they are! I am your Aunt’s little brother but, when they got married, I also became your Uncle’s brother too. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the hours playing video games, the long talks, or being poor with him. I know that seems odd but when you don’t have much, you really appreciate all that you do have. I spent every holiday with them (one Christmas we spend the entire day in our pj’s), every birthday (Aunt Suzy’s cakes are that of legend), and I was around for almost all of your cousin’s birth (I was your cousin Oscar’s 3^rd word)! We made it through, got better jobs and bigger places, but I’ll never forget those NYC memories with them. The reason why is through all of that, I got to see what a remarkable husband, father, and friend your Uncle Tim was/is! I determined that, if I ever got lucky enough to meet someone like your mama, I would be just like him.

I’m excited for you to meet these super heroes of mine! I know they’re both excited to meet you! Never forget that, even though you grow up in an era full of super hero movies, the best ones are the ones in your family (wink, wink).