childhood obsessions

childhood obsessions

Y’know those things you wanted to be when you were younger?

Like, being a firefighter, or a truck driver, even your parents?

Those childhood obsessions that you would do anything for?

Just to make them come true?

I had a few

I wanted to be a princess,

because who doesn’t want pretty clothes and live in a castle and ride horses all day?

I wanted to be a ballerina,

because who doesn’t want to look pretty and wear a frilly tutu and dance on stage?

I wanted to be an adventurer,

because who doesn’t want to have a cool story to tell about how they crossed a deadly river to grab a priceless jewel?

But

the thing I wanted most to be

was a superhero.

To go out and kick butt and take names?

To have some awesome powers?

To be loved by everyone?

To thwart the villain and save the day?

Yeah, that sounded pretty cool.

But how?

Even I knew back then that falling into a vat of toxic goo wouldn’t make me become awesome.

Just dead.

And I wasn’t smart enough (or rich enough) to make my own gadgets.

All I could do was just pretend

tie a bedsheet around my neck and jump off the bed, pretend that I could fly.

Play in the backyard and pretend that I’m saving innocent civilians from a ne’er-do-well.

Watch Batman and Superman on the tv with the hope that I’ll grow up and be just like them.

When I grew up

I abandoned the idea of becoming the princess ballerina that had awesome adventures

but I never really gave up on the idea of being super.

That was always there in the back of my mind.

Some people become heroes by becoming a cop

Some people selflessly give money and time to local charities or even start their own goodwill foundations.

Some even risk their lives to save others.

Other’s become their children’s personal heroes.

Sadly, I’m an 18 year old with no money or time to give.

But that doesn’t mean I can do something big.

Something incredible.

Something that will blow the world’s mind

so much so that they will clap their hands and shout

“That girl’s super.”