WHAT IF THEY ARE REAL

Today I took a vacation. Since I am leaving on Sunday for that conference and I count 7.5 hours of driving as work I think that it was a fine day for a vacation. I took today instead of tomorrow (thus giving myself a weekend) because I have things to do tomorrow. Today, not so much. Well at least not so much that they can’t be done later. So I did some laundry, some dishes, got ready to go, and watched week’s worth of Heroes that was on the DVR. I love that show.

I have always like superheroes. Maybe it’s because Dad is into comics but maybe it is because they just speak to me. I maintain the fact that I could fly until I realized I wasn’t supposed to be able to. I know it sounds crazy but who knows? Anyway, when I saw commercials for a new show about regular people suddenly realizing they had super powers it seemed like a dream come true. I was worried that, like so many other shows, people would take an incredible idea and muck it up to all get out. That is not the case with this show. Granted, there are some characters I like more than others, and there are some that I downright hate but that is what makes a good show a good show, variety.

I also like shows with an ensemble cast. They run the risk of not getting in enough character development but when done correctly they can’t be beat. They draw you into an entirely new world and to me that is what entertainment should be. It should allow you to put things on hold for a while and look into a place that you generally wouldn’t go, or would only go in your dreams.

The past few years, I have been watching far too much reality television. I find it interesting but know it is utterly stupid. It has been a long time since there is a show that I truly find wonderful. The last one I felt this way about was Arrested Development and we all know what happened to that show. Or maybe we don’t because no one was watching it. Anyway, to me Heroes is that caliber. It is a completely different show but it is that quality. I hope it doesn’t start to suck.

The fact that there are many attractive people (and one incredibly hot one) on the show doesn’t hurt either. But to me, it’s the story, the way the characters get in your head that really makes the difference. Hiro, the Japanese businessman who can bend time is one of the greatest characters created in a long long time. His innocence, and genuine good heart makes him so appealing. I watched an episode today where he was unable to save people and almost lost it. Of course he saved some other people a little later and felt better but that isn’t my point. The point is that he is one of those people who truly want to make the world a better place. When you have power of any kind it is up to you how you use it. I know not everyone would use it for good. In fact, I think most people would use it primarily for personal gain and then maybe do some good deeds as penance for their selfishness. Hiro did help his friend cheat in Vegas a bunch but he didn’t like it and it got them in a lot of trouble.

I wonder what I would think if someone I knew well came up to me and told me they had these strange powers. Would I come to believe them after a series of demonstrations, would I simply not listen, or would I accept them at face value and trust that they wouldn’t lie to me? I guess it depends on who it was that came to me with this information. Some people would do it just to mess with my believable nature, Dad, but others would probably mean it. What if it were me? Would I tell anyone? I know people don’t believe this kind of stuff. I guess maybe I like super powers so much because I don’t believe there is any real reason for people not to develop them eventually. Evolution is happening all the time. If it doesn’t the species is doomed. The only question then is, how soon and to what end? I wish I had enough faith in humanity to believe that things would change for the better. I just doubt that would be the case.

1. Get out of the car, put down the phone, take off that stupid looking hat you wear. I've Got a Match, They Might Be Giants, Identified by CMB

2. She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene. Billie Jean, Michael Jackson. Identified by Mom.

3. Come to my house be one of the comfortable people. Lovely bright home we’re drinking all night never sleeping. Welcome, The Who. Identified by Mom.

4. It’s very far away, takes about a half a day to get there if we travel by my dragonfly. Spanish Castle Magic, Jimi Hendrix. Identified by Mom.

5. I got a letter from the government the other day opened it and read it, it said they were suckers. Black Steele, Tricky. Identified by Brooke.