Derek (another Tangents’ Blogger), posed the question “Who wants to be a superhero?” in his blog. My first thought was about the Saturday evenings I spend with my oldest daughter, her husband, and a few friends. For the past few months, we spend Saturday being superheroes. A fun little role playing game based on Marvel Comic book characters and settings. Yes, there are mutants, armored, magical, or insect-bitten superheroes running (flying) all over the place.
Our game master has a wonderful gift in the design of the stories/settings the players face. We designed our superheroes and try to bring them to life during our Saturday games. Now as with most groups like this, sometimes the game gets set aside for a while and we have idle talk about this or that. I’m not sure if she knows it or not, but my eldest invited her dear old dad into part of her life she wasn’t expecting. On Saturdays, I am not only her father, but I am a friend of her friends. By extension, that does make me my daughter’s friend.
Hmm. I think that is a place any father would want to be. She still calls me and talks to me about her troubles. In her eyes, I can still make things better with a hug or the right words. By any other name, I am still her Daddy. And she is still my darling girl. During the past few months our relationship grew. I am more than her Father and maybe a better Father. Maybe I am a superhero in my own life? And by all counts, I will be an important factor in the life of my soon to be grandchild.
Who would have though of that 25+ years ago….
Very cool! Funny how interests bring family members closer together. I believe there is a hero in all of us.
Hmm.. I can’t quite picture you as a superhero, but then no one pegged Clark Kent for one either. You don’t by chance have a mask and cape hidden somewhere, now do you? 😉
The RPG sounds like fun, by the way.
derek — No cape or mask, but I do have a leather jacket and fedora… 😉 I could also get by with a trench coat and scarf.
I almost forgot, I do have a cape. It isn’t the normal superhero cape, unless you consider Dracula a superhero.
How about Blade, the Vampire Hunter… did he wear a mask? Not one of the more popular characters.
The Blade — Trench Coat or Leather Duster, wrap-around sunglasses. Or just a t-shirt. Always with lots of weapons, especially swords.
Good for you!
I know my dad would really enjoy our game nights – too bad he isn’t around to be a part of those…