Heroes

I just read my friend Tom's post, was going to reply, and decided to do it here. Over this past few weeks, I have seen many heroes in action. No capes or tights, no flying like a speeding bullet, but heroes nonetheless. People with nothing to gain opening up their houses to friends, coworkers, family, and anyone else without power or shelter after the winter storms. People from states away coming to fix power lines to help a neighbour who will never know their name. That's the kind of thing that restores someone's faith in people.

We all behave ourselves when someone is watching. We don't do anything to socially damaging or heinous when eyes are on us (except maybe for effect, which is another story entirely). But our acts of valor in the spotlight are not what makes heroes. It's the unsung songs, the untold stories of kindness and compassion. We remembered that after 9/11. I think we have begun to forget it again. No, not begun, almost succeeded. Inundated as we are by celebrity scandals, drug scandals, sex scandals, political scandals, economic... well, you get the idea, the story becomes more about the nefarious, the careless, and the just plain stupid. The man who helps a kid find their dog, the woman who stops and gives someone directions, the child who talks with someone so they know they're not alone... small acts make immeasurable waves.

In another vein, I was listening to the radio while driving to Louisville, and they were having a radiothon for Kosair Children's Hospital. People were giving to a cause that may never touch them, for people who would never know them, and they were giving with generosity, even during these tight financial times. Those people are heroes. Not the athletes, the TV stars, the singers and everyone else we look up to. We need to learn not to look up to find heroes, but to look around, and be heroes.

Interview...?

I'm tired, but that good kind of tired that happens after you realize that things are out of yoru hands, and you worked hard to ensure that alll you could do, had been done.

I went up to Ashland for the interview Tuesday night. The weather was bad; it was snowing sideways, and at one point, I skated across the road and ended up doing a 720° spin. It was a bit terrifying in that adrenaline-pumping ohmygodwereallgonnadie kind of way. Anyway, I arrive safely, collapse in my room, and watch tv.

The next morning I am awakened at about 0530 by a truck backing up nearby, and quite possibly into, the motel directly under my room. I go back to sleep only to get a call at 0800 that my interview isn't happening. One of the interviewers can't amke the drive in due to the weather. But I luck out, they're willing to give me a tour of the lab. I get to meet the people, including most of those with whom I will be interviewing, and from Scouts to science to sci-fi, I click with just about everyone there. Video games are a major topic of conversation as well. I can't shake the feeling of somehow coming home.

I enjoyed the visit, I'm going to enjoy the interview next Thursday, and I think I am a very competitive candidate for this position. Keep your fingers crossed, say a little prayer if you're of that persuasion, and hope that this works out. Something tells me, though, that I'm now where I'm supposed to be. Kinda creepy when it works out like that, really... ok, going to bed now before my eyes start bleeding.

Wicked

It's a new day, a new month,a nd things are mellting before we get hit again. Woot. I'm going to see Wicked today. Should be a lot of fun. Have my interview Wednesday. Here's to hoping I get the job.