I wanted to say this day is usually reserved exclusively for my lovely Lois, but I find so many things going on in this first decade of the new millennium…Things that require attention for the relief of human suffering. It is harder to keep up with disasters than it used to be. I am feeling limitations that are painful to admit to…
The worldwide recession has affected me as well. Even though I was evicted from my fortress of solitude a year ago, I still monitor the status of my former home, and I am not pleased.
My fortress has been awash with frigid waters. Many records, photographs and documents I have carefully preserved since the 1930’s are ruined. I had been in a deep ruin myself, after finding so many of my keepsakes bloated and faded beyond recognition.
To my amazement and great delight, the Library of Congress has lovingly preserved my records. I had been so depressed about my loss, I had forgotten about the visit of a team of curators from Washington in the ladder part of 2009. Most of the artifacts were transferred, with many copies made and distributed to museums throughout the world. I love humanity for this gesture. I love the world…….
Humanity, I Heart the World…
“Well G, what do you think? I worked on this last night.”
I was stuck on Kal-El’s tone of self-pity and thought his love speech could be shorter.
“Well my Kryptonian Friend, Why not just say, ‘Humanity, I Heart the World’ and leave it simple?”
“I wanted to give a glimpse into my suffering as well…you know, a little empathy to make a more emotional connection.”
I understood his earnest belief that he could place himself among the suffering masses in the world, but the content of his speech was like comparing a hangnail to mass famine. For a moment, I collected a thought or two, knowing there was a way to channel his positive side away from his small torments.
“Kal, as your friend, I want you to keep the message simple and positive. If humanity takes on your problems as well, their own problems become compounded.”
He saw the sense in this and a smile formed as he nodded and placed his steely hand on my shoulder.
“I have visuals too!” He slid a picture across our drawing table. “I made a capture of a cherished specimen I received from Dr. Michael E. DeBakey in the 70’s. The Human Heart!...Beautiful in its simplicity…so few chambers compared to my own!”
He sensed my slight internal regurgitation, eventualy followed by a calmer, but dubious reaction.
“Kal, its gross! Why would you think this picture would emphasize your expression?”
“OK, I just thought most people would see the beauty in the real heart’s complexity of form and texture.”
“The greeting you want to give should express love, not make folks throw up.”
“Then look at this one!” He slid another photo in front of me. “A computer graphic…the colors are smart, and lovely, making the human heart more of an object of wonder.”
“Too academic…and still quite gross. Here, lets pull something from my file. It needs to be an image that is universal, simple and iconic…here!”
I found an image of a plump, red symbol, a friendly, cuddly heart. His eyes fell onto the image and he smiled again…His face softened. He looked at me, picked up the image and placed it on my scanner. In an instant he was gone.
“Super-speed again…” Kal-El always used this power when he was emotional, or when He could not invoke his fantastic powers to handle fragile situations. He never needed to convince me, or anyone of his love for this adopted world.
I opened my computer, went to Open Salon and his greeting came across the screen…simple, sincere…splendid…
Humanity,
I
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Comments
R
That real heart is scary and wondrous. Ugh and wow at the same time. I don't think its a very healthy heart.
Happy post V-Day, Gary - to a man of big, big dreams.
He knows we heart him back, and hopefully you know we heart you too. :-D
This is the greatest sentence ever, I love how it summed and encapsulated his character: He saw the sense in this and a smile formed as he nodded and placed his steely hand on my shoulder.
Man, I'd love to have that picture as an 8x10 in a silver frame on my desk. It would be like having Gary Justis watching me write. I'd look up and that expression - it would be saying to me "Yes - Create!"
Gary, I say this sincerely: your work is creating an archive of what it means to be human, to be alive, that Superman would find utterly representative of what there is to celebrate about same.
In a sense, Superman was always near by in the form of my bother, Dad, My father-in-law Walter, Uncle Joe, and all the guys who had an impact on myself and all folks around them. So I have had Superman in my room, many times and in other forms, attesting to the power of grace, and the longing to do what is good and just.
Thank you for the fine words you share with me from time to time. Its and honor to be your friend.