What is a hero? When we think of heroes we think capes, super strength, super speed, masks, suits, but we don't think of the hero that may walk beside us everyday.. My hero is my father. He didn't have super strength but the love he had for our family was definitely a strong one. He didn't have super speed but he was so quick to help out anyone who needed it. He didn't have a cool mask, but boy that smile of his could light up the world if we'd let it...My father passed away of a heart attack in June of 2013. When I was seventeen, I lost my superhero. This world will never be the same again and unfortunately many people won't get the chance to meet this incredible man. The best I can do is make it so they can know him through words. My words. So, here is my story.... An angel in Heaven now but was always an angel on Earth.. meet my father..

If my father could meet every cartoon character he would. He loved them. Every shirt in that closet we put away after he passed smelled of his happiness. He loved laughing. I can still hear his laugh. I can still see him sitting there watching his favorite cartoons and enjoying life and those little moments just felt so right to him. I remember the silver Mitsubishi Galant and I remember the Gold Chevy Impala he drove. I remember our small adventures. We'd drive every Friday after school to pick my mother up from work. I'd write in my books in the front passenger seat until we'd arrive and I'd move to the back. But the ride there was everything to me. I couldn't wait to get out of school just to

go with him. He was my bestfriend. I'd play my music in the car and the music he'd hate. The only music his ears would open up to was Barry Manilow and the songs I'd compose. I loved showing my parents my music. I've always wrote songs and always loved singing them. My mother would tell me how amazing my music was, and my father would tell me the same only it was different. He'd tell me what I needed to fix. He'd listen and REALLY listen. Because he loved music. Just like me. He loved singing and writing music. Just like me. So he knew when I needed to fix a certain bump in my voice and at the time it seemed harsh. Now I understand it. His advice made me improve. He'd listen to my music in the car and turn it up. He'd say "wow, YOU wrote this"? He was so impressed. He'd tell...