Thinking About Heroes

Pamela Elaine Gardner (Right) and her daughter Mackenzie Leigh Gardner (Left). A short little woman standing at 5'4 with blonde hair and bright blue eyes that always seem to cut right down to the bottom line of things. She is strong, funny, and always supportive.

She started out as a brute, a heartbreaking, volleyball playing, absolute trouble maker who always seemed to catch all the attention. Even at the age of a seasoned 56, she is still able to keep up with the teenagers, whether in common sense and tricks, games, smarts, looks, and of course mischeif. She nearly became a nurse, only a week away from graduation before switching majors to go on and become an engineer... So perhaps a stubborn mystery of a woman as well.

She started later than some with a child, at the age of 40, but for her, it was a child all too wanted and wished for: a little girl. She herself was never married, it wasn't that there was anything wrong or something strange going on, she simply never wanted to be married, or never really found the right person. Instead, she buckled herself down and raised the little girl all on her own, overcoming obstacles of all kinds. 

She raised her in the life of a farm, teaching her the basics of life in Arizona as she herself lived life with her daughter to the fullest. Being the Mother and Father of the two-person family, she gave her daughter more than enough love and support to help her find her dream career of Veterinarian Medicine, a career that has remained unchanging for twelve going on thirteen years.

For me, a hero is not someone with superpowers or goes off fighting bad guys, but someone who faces every day no matter the obstacles or the hardships in store. Someone who shoulders more than their load and is able to share with others the secrets of life, the laughter, and joy within it.