GrandDad’s “Fault”

Despite being a natural fan of things heroic, if anyone’s at ” fault ” for this love it’s my late grandfather.
He passed along the reading gene that had him devouring Sunday newspapers as a boy in rural South Carolina. I would do the same years later in urban Georgia.
He read Superman and Batman in their debut comics!; along with pulp magazines featuring Doc Savage and the Shadow. The whole film noir epoch of detective movies and thrillers happened before his eyes as a young movie goer.
On his knee I learned a creed reminiscent of the Knights of the Roundtable and his beloved Prince Hall Shriners. Major advice includes:
* Don’t hit girls ( Later amended after one hit me first but to this day the amendment has never been acted upon. it just doesn’t seem right ).
* Keep your wits about you.
* They’ll make a train for you. Translation: Beware being railroaded in situations!
He was a retired math teacher who moved to Savannah’s Depression era Hood variously known as ” the Fort ” or ” Frogtown ” where fighting was a regular rite of passage.
A snubnosed .357 revolver often rode his hip when he’d go out at night. He preached being prepared and aware of one’s surroundings. It’s a major reason I’m a security consultant today.
Grand Dad always set the standard by being a jovial, concerned citizen who stayed informed about current events and provided encouragement for my interests.
Heroism as an interest wasn’t surprising with a grandfather whom cats would deliver kittens to and infants would cry loudly over leaving.
GrandDad had something special about him, just like the characters in our beloved fiction. For him, comics and pulps were entertainment. For me, they offered colorful blueprints for injecting the fantastic into life.
It’s his ” fault ” superheroes and heroism are lifelong passions and I thank him for this gift.
After all, he was my FIRST hero!
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. http://www.captblack.info .