An Everyday Extraordinary Hero, My Cousin Pam

In our world of big names, curiously, our true heroes tend to be anonymous. In this life of illusion and quasi-illusion, the person of solid virtues who can be admired for something more substantial than his well-knownness often proves to be the unsung hero: the teacher, the nurse, the mother, the honest cop, the hard worker at lonely, underpaid, unglamorous, unpublicized jobs.
Daniel J. Boorstin

I thought I should return to my therapy (my writing) tonight, but what could I write about after the last week. Rob and I both came home drained today. My first landing was the couch with chocolate. I checked out my e-mail, face book and took a nap. I awoke and thought about what could motivate me to want to do anything. I started thinking about my cousin Pam (Derek's Mom). Many kind words have been said about Derek this past week. Words have been used like courage, honorable, hero. Derek is deserving of all of these words, but another person also very deserving of these words are his mother, Pam. Pam is an inspiration to many. She is especially an inspiration to me. She is what I want to be someday. She is strong, kind, spiritual, forgiving, and full of faith and love. She shows great strength during the most trying times and unbearable pain. When my young cousin was shot and killed last week in the line of duty, I was angry. During the funeral service for her son, the national head of the US Marshal Service spoke of how Pam had consoled her when she had called Pam to give her support. I've felt the same during this week. I constantly find myself asking "how does she do it?" Pam lost her husband 10 years ago and raised her teenage sons by herself while working full time as a teacher. During Pam's eulogy for her son, she spoke of praying for all the US Marshals and seem to step forward and tell us in the end it will all be OK. Pam is an unsung hero. She is a wonderful mother, teacher, friend to many, an inspiration to all who know her. She is also funny, a good cook and a devote Christian.  Pam is someone to admire. In these modern times of false heroes in the entertainment and sports industry, we need to look for and acknowledge the true everyday heroes all around us and in our families, so this blog tonight is dedicated to one of my heroes, my cousin Pam, who demonstrated for her younger cousin once again what it means to be strong, courageous, kind, spiritual and a true Christian. I love you, Pam.