Father's Day Prep: Who's Your Hero When You Don't Have a Dad?

My dad was my hero. He was a good man... I always felt taken care of. I have always been a pretty independent person but when he died I felt like who's going to take care of me now? Who's going to worry about me like he worried about me? That was when my mom was still here, and it's true she cared for me and worried about me, but there was something about my dad's strength that I just could not let go of.

The truth is, no one will love you like your dad and no one could ever fill his shoes... but there are people who want to love you if you look around.

On my dad's death bed, he asked my cousin Gary to look out for me. Gary has been a rock in my life, sticking to his word every day since and for that, I have to say thank you. You are a hero to me and I feel protected.

My brother, Bob, we've had our ups and downs and now we're on the ups. When I look at him I am reminded that I am looking at someone who's known me my whole life and even though we might not see eye to eye on all things, we are on the same team, with the same blood, and I know he'd be there if I needed him. Bob, you are a hero to me and I feel protected.

My friend Dan, who I've known since the 3rd grade, is a hero to me. He's always been the kind of person I could tell anything too and never feel judged. I have always been able to be myself, even though those akward periods of time where you're not really sure who you are. In our adult lives, we are both comfortbally and confidently friends for life. Dan, you are my hero and I feel protected.

So many people have been there for me in my life post-pop, but I feel the male list is small. I'm hoping to grow that list. This father's day, instead of focusing on the father, the son, and the hole in my heart (or his ghost), I'm focusing on my heros.

Who are your heros?