Hidden...

The boys call him dad. But Superman might be just as fitting.


His cape, once resting across shoulders easily 80 miles wide, has only continued to widen over the years. Oh it's tarnished, weathered, frayed at the edges. It's lost its luster. But its protective qualities never fail.


Just last week, it stretched again, when he saw the disappointed look on another dad's face who was too strapped for money, to sign his son up for sports. He recognized the crestfallen look, the lines of worry and stress, the burden this dad must feel. He lifted a tiny bit of that weight, paving the way for the boy to play sports this winter. Superman did so, anonymously, with no fanfare, and just a hint of his Clark Kent glasses peeking from his pocket.  He'll even be a bit perturbed at me for telling on him, but I'll take that risk.  


I'm outing him, because most of the time his talents are hidden. He is a behind the scenes kind of person, and enjoys giving the spotlight to others.  He is notably absent in these photos... but really he is there.  He loves us through his lens, his eyes with x-ray vision for our best qualities, even when we make it really hard for him to find the best in us.  

It was the 4th of July when we took these photos at the big tree.  I first took photos and wrote about that very tree here, the day our beloved Dakota passed away a little over a year ago.   Little did we know, the second time we visited the same tree, just over 24 hours later, my father would pass away. 


Even Superman's super powers could not shield us from the sadness and loss, his cape seemingly inadequate at that time, although those 80 mile wide shoulders were leaned on heavily by me.   But months later, while searching for these photos, I found a hidden treasure...  3 videos he took of Dad on this same July 4th afternoon. I'd thought they perished when the old Mac died on us. But the files were just hidden, thoughtfully tucked away on an external drive, left for me to find, exactly when I would need them the most.  Superman strikes again...

   


This time it was right before my eyes, in plain sight.  You see, that "S" on Superman's chest? That "S" on the shield is actually Kryptonian for the word "Hope."   


I'm joining a new link party today over at "the habit of being."  If you haven't met Amanda, you really should.