Little Heroes

(My three cubs: Christian, Caitlyn & Hannah)

 Everyone has a hero or someone that they look up to. Maybe it is someone who gave you some good advice or was there to listen when no one else would. Someone who showed you that you can conquer the world, and you can do it alone. For California trial lawyer, David Boies, that person was his father.

Mr. Boies father moved his family to California from Illinois over 50 years ago. Neither parent had a job or home awaiting them. However, Mr.Boies says the best way to teach someone to make right choices is to lead through example.

Mr. Boies claims his father was always hard working and doing the right thing. David Boies father was a high school history teacher but always had many second jobs, (not only to add to the income but in search of a challenge as well). These second jobs include: selling World Book Encyclopedias, working at Sears and driving a bakery truck.

David Boies, after 40 years of practice, now has his own law firm in a Los Angeles loft, and he credits all of his success to the lessons his father instilled in him during his youth.

However, my hero, my light in the darkness hasn't gone out to conquer the world yet. In fact, she hasn't even graduated middle school yet. My hero is of a smaller proportion with a giant heart.

My 12 year old sister has shown me the way I need to be when no one else could, when she didn't even realize that she had. I've made mistakes, everyone has, but there's nothing worse than the look on her face and the sadness in her eyes when she's disappointed in me. She's the only person in the world it seems, sometimes that I have enough respect for, not to do things I know I shouldn't, just as a slap in the face.

My sister looks up to me, I'm her role model! It even says so on her myspace. If there's one thing I shouldn't be, it's a role model, but there's no one else I'd be prouder of to have look up to me.

Sometimes when I see her or when I talk to her and we have a real conversation, about something other than Hannah Montana, I catch a glimpse of that innocence in her. The same kind all of us used to have and it makes me happy to know that there is still good in the world, and that it's in her.

I've also realized how brave she is. I mean, anyone can walk out the door in the morning with a scowl on and an "I hate the world" attitude. But it takes something more than that to be happy and friendly and kind. I'm not always great at that, but she gives me hope that it'll happen.

I realize she won't be a child forever, but the crazy thing is, she has the power and the mind set of bringing her child-like wonder and happiness into her adolescence and probably the rest of her life. Even at 12, I had already made horrible mistakes and choices. I wish I could take them back, but then I think of how she would never do the things I've done and it's not so bad.

The last straw, the mistake that she witnessed first hand and what brought me back from everything hurt her so badly. She wouldn't speak to me for days and at the time I didn't care. Now, if I had one chance to do something over, that would be it.

She makes me want to live life better, the way it's supposed to be, not only for myself but other people as well. It sometimes amazes me that with everything I've done, I'm still
her light in the dark. Ironically enough, she's my hero because I'm hers. (written by Caitlyn for Hannah)

Til Next Time, sassy v