To My Hero, Aunt Gina

.....There are many characteristics that actually make a hero, different people have different qualities they find in their heroes, like loyalty, beauty, brains, brawn, personality, love, and the list could literally go on forever. Though you are all of these things, the reason you are my hero is because your priorities are such that honesty, loyalty, and love are more important to you than anything else. All of these things are also most important to me, too!

.....Honesty is a very broad subject, but being blunt is a big part of being honest with me, and you never hold anything back. My sophomore year in high school I helped make a list, a list that was not popular at all when the rest of the school found out about it. When I told you what was going on, you immediately asked me if I thought I did the right thing. I said, " I think so, but I don't really know for sure because all of these people are mad at me." I will never forget sitting in your office as you looked me eyeball to eyeball and said, " Adra, not everyone is going to like you all the time anyway. Why should you care? I know it's hard but they did the wrong. Now they are going to have to pay the consequences." Other than my faith in God getting through this, your honesty and encouragement is what allowed me to conquer this problem.

.....I have had problems throughout my life, just as everyone else has. You have stuck by me through thick and thin. Your loyalty to me and our relationship is another reason why you are my hero. When Mom and Dad split up you stuck by me and had all the support in the world for me. I, on the other hand unconsciously backed away from you and felt threatened for some reason. You tried to talk and be open, but when you saw I was not responding, you backed away just enough to give me my space. Then, one day you came to me being the honest person you are and told me you loved me and wanted and wanted to be there for me more than ever. You hugged me and said you had no reason to take sides with Mom or Dad and asked me to please think about what our relationship meant to me. You were loyal to me, even though I was not putting as much energy into our relationship as you were. Looking back to that makes me realize how your loyalty has made our relationship that much stronger and former bond we had never had before.

.....I love you very much, and I know you love me. In fact your love is what sparked our relationship and our friendship. When I was five years-old, you would push me on my swing, and sing, "Just a swangin'." Then you taught me how to handle and cope with my parents divorce. Now you are helping me decide where I am going to college, and what I am going to do for the rest of my life. Through all of these decisions in my life, you have loved me, stood by me, and encouraged me, no matter what. Your love is what makes me the person I am today, and who I am going to be tomorrow.

.....Yes, you have beauty, brains, brawn, honesty, love, a great personality, and loyalty, and you show these characteristics in everything you do. Some people see their mom as their hero, or grandmother, maybe a famous actress or even a friend, but this very special person, my hero, is YOU!!!