MY TRUEST HERO

I think most of us have heroes. I've not had many, not finding most people worthy of that title. When we make people our heroes, we put them on a pedestal of sorts and people simply are not meant to be on pedestals and ultimately they disappoint us.

Mine can be contained to one hand--all for different reasons. The late great Waylon Jennings, the late forever larger-than-life Dale Earnhardt, Lech Walesa, who many have probably forgotten but whom I never will, and my late twin, Virgle. Of the quad, Virg is the greatest of all . . . for me.

He lived the life handed to him, persevered as long as he could through it all and when he could no longer stay the course he had set for himself, he let go and those of us who loved him had to let go as well.

Just a little about those I have named as heroes. Waylon never saw a rule he could not overcome, an establishment that could not be taken on, a song that could not be sung the way he thought it should be. Dale Earnhardt never got into a race car expecting to be defeated. Lech Walesa dreamed of a free Poland. He never thought of giving up.

Virg was not unlike these men in his way. Struck with ulcerated colitis at the age of 21, he never thought of giving up his farm. Through years of pain and heartache, he never thought of giving up on his family and friends. If someone needed help, he was there to help them. When one tough thing led to another, he put personal feelings aside and did what needed to be done.

He loved his family above all else. He was someone I was proud to be related to. Don't get me wrong, he had his faults. All heroes do. All of us do. But his faults were outweighed by his strengths . . . by his can-do attitude. He will be remembered long after he is gone.