There are many qualities that engender a hero. The three main qualities that I feel that all heroes must have are that they need to be nurturing, compassionate, and loving. My Aunt Irene has all three of these qualities, and is my hero. As we go along on this journey I will show you how my Aunt Irene has these qualities and became my hero.

My aunt began her life in McMinnville, Oregon, and very poor. She married her High School boyfriend, and they had over 50 years together. They raised two sons, and after all of that she is still ready and willing to help me raise my child. My aunt may not be perfect, in fact she can be rather mean, but it is always for my own good. It is meant to be a push in the right direction, not to hurt me.

My aunt is nurturing in that she doesn't just give you the answers or tell you what to do. She gives you the tools that you need to get the answers required to solve the problems that plague your life at any given point. She talks with you, not at you,proving that she hears what you say, and understands what you mean. My aunt helps you to grow in your life, develop your interests, and encourages you along the way.

When you grow flowers, you need to nurture and feed and love them, to get the biggest and most beautiful flowers possible. My aunt Irene nurtures people the same as she does her flowers. It is in her nature to nurture those that she loves, and give them the "food, love and water" that they need to grow into the wonderful adults that she knows that they can be. Without this beautiful and kind person in my life, I do not know where I would be, but I do know that I would not be here becoming all that I can be.

When you are the matriarch of a family, you have a lot of responsibilities that range from being a mother, to being a great grandmother, to dealing with troubles and melt downs. My aunt has not only raised her own children, but she has also raised my brothers and myself for a time. Even though she is retired from her job, she has taken on the job of watching my child when I really need it. She is always there for a family member when they are in need. She is selfless, kind, loving, and when needed she is also hardheaded, stubborn, grumpy and strict. When you deal with multiple generations, you need to be able to converse with, as well as keep in line all of those people. I think that she is the best mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother, aunt, and great aunt that anyone could ever ask for.

Families are what make the football games better. We may root for different teams, but when they play each other, we can all get together and have a good time, with playful teasing and phones a going. My aunt is the only other Beaver believer in my family. We make sure to fly our colors whenever we are with the rest of the family, during all games and especially during civil war.

I think that my aunt embodies a loving person. Earlier this year I was in a very dark place, and there was one bright shining light that lit my way. That was my aunt. She was there and asked me what I needed to get better, there was no judgement in her eyes like I see in so many others when I reveal what had happened. She doesn't say "I love you" in words, but it is there in her actions, and if you know what to look for , it is in her attitude. She may not be the most understanding at times, but she does seem to know what you really need. She will give you the kick in the pants that you deserve when you need it, and the pat on the back when it is earned.

When you love someone, sometimes words just aren't enough. Sometimes it's the little actions that show how much you really love them. It's actions like standing with your face in a funny cut out while they take your picture and post it to Facebook that shows just how much you love them. My aunt Irene is one of those people who don't always say it, but show it in one of these ways. She would rather use humor to show her love, rather than a lot of flowery words that she doesn't really mean. Just because you say the words, it doesn't mean that you mean or even understand them.

Even though she may not always like having her picture taken, she is willing to pose with you when you need a good one. She is the best friend of all of those in need no matter the age or relation to you. Every child in the neighborhood who has met her calls her auntie.

When I look up compassion in the dictionary it states "sympathetic feeling: pity, mercy." I would add to that by saying that it also includes listening with an understanding, no matter who is around, what you look like, or where you are. A truly compassionate person is one who is there to listen to all of your problems no matter what else is going on in their lives, even if you are in a town that they don't like, after using their car to get there, and sitting in a mall with pink hair. A truly compassionate person doesn't care if you are at your worst, because it is then that they are at their best. They don't care if you are down, because they are there to lift you up. My aunt may not be the most affectionate, but she is the most compassionate.

This is my aunt now. She means the world to me. She is the hero I wish to be like when I grow up. She is nurturing, loving, and compassionate. These things are what a true hero is in my opinion, and she is all of those things in one kind package. She may not be what would normally be considered a hero by today's TV standards, but she is my hero, and there could never be anyone better.