And the award goes to...

(suspenseful drum roll) JODI BROWN!!! The winner of the Hero Award is Jodi Brown, with her family and friends winning the Sidekick Award. For those in the audience who don't know what the Hero and Sidekick awards are, let's give a little background explanation. (Cue musical montage...) Oops. We only have a musical montage for why squirrels are evil and rule the world. That and some video for Scooby Doo 3. Squirrels really ARE evil!

Well then, I'll just have to explain instead. First, we must go to the infallable, and ever unflappable, Mr. Webster. Or, in this instance, Merriam-Webster. (I am resisting the urge to make a joke about the hyphenation of a dictionary.) The word 'hero' dates back to the 14th century. Latin heros, Greek heros with little lines over the e and o. Tragically, I do not have a Grecian alphabet on my keyboard. Tear trickle. There are about 7 definitions. I have chosen the ones that suit my purposes, of course. 1c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d : one that shows great courage. (Hippo would like me to point out that a hero doesn't just have to be a man. A hero can be a woman or even a hippo. This is a very valid point. Thank you Hippo.)

'Super' means of high grade or quality. So, super + hero = someone admired for his/her quality achievements and high grade nobility or one that shows high grade courage. Heroes are those who face their arch nemesis, their own personal weakness, the evil villain of the week who is not their arch nemesis, and earth's quite regular teetering on the edge of total disaster with courage and pluck. They don't give up when everyone else is screaming in terror or deciding that the Evil Villain Health Care Package looks good enough to join (admittedly, the high-collared cape gets people too). Heroes recognize that life will have some difficult moments but they face them anyway.

And a sidekick? Starting in 1906, a sidekick was "someone who closely associates with another as a subordinate or partner." A sidekick isn't the one going through the same trial as the hero (i.e. they aren't going to die from a kryptonite tennis bracelet). Their challenge is to support the hero and help the hero successfully face the trial.

So why Jodi Brown and her family and friends? Check out this week's The Veeda Weekly blog. Read her Momterview and you'll know. Kate Braestrup (author of Marriage and Other Acts of Charity) said: "It is a brave thing to try to love at all, let alone completely and always. It is a brave thing--and yet it is the only thing." Jodi Brown's story is an example of love, bravery, and daily endurance. (The chair idea is also really cool and I look forward to passing it on or using it as needed.) So thank you The Veeda Weekly. (Our own Daily Planet perhaps???)

Tell me what you think. Do you know someone who should be given a Hero or Sidekick Award? Email me or post a comment!

Until next time remember, Face your trials with courage and remove your cape while mowing lawns. Even if it's your job, worker's comp claims only pay 66%.