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A caveat before we begin; this is not a complete listing as much and more brave souls from all walks of life have already answered, if not will answer, the call of duty. These are among the heroes that may not have their praises lifted, but are needed nonetheless.
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The Driver; Deliverer of Goods, Peoples, and Hopes
How often do we remember the face of those that provide transit to and from work? The familiar greet or smile, the grizzled face seeing the bustle of traffic? One that must adhere to the travel schedule provided and to arrive on-time, every time? Do you greet them as you make it to your seat? Do you think of them during your commute or feel that they may be thinking of you? That is the hero known as the transit worker, or simply "the driver." But the driver is not limited to transit or travel. There is also the driver of goods across the highway(s) and by-way(s). These souls shoulder the burden of deliverance; ensuring goods and services to where they need to be. They journey on their own and for some, a break is not possible; they must carry the things keeping us safe, and also keep us going. The driver is also known as a deliverer as well, and that is where many heroes come forth; though some know them as postal workers, or cab drivers. The moniker is the same as they continue to deliver to all.
The Medic; Shields of Life, Safeguarding the Vulnerable
This is a hero many know, but perhaps they focus on the medic known as a 'doctor.' There are also medics known as 'nurses' and even 'site wards.' These brave souls fight for our very lives, and do everything they can to make sure we see another day. They are the ones that tend to our needs when we are in the sickbed, perhaps feeding us, keeping us clean, or even telling stories in the day or night. They offer medicine prescriptions, handle surgeries, tend to other physicians (another name for a medic), and keep the place known as the hospital in the best of shape possible. It is here that these heroes do what they can to shield the vulnerable from disease, and strengthen them back to health. Yet, these battle-hardened warriors know all to well that death itself comes for all of us; even with this knowledge, they do what they can to the best of their ability.
The Chef; Nurturers of the Body
This hero helps us stay fed in times of hunger. A breakfast, lunch, and dinner is a challenge to some, so a chef helps us stay fed. Some have the capacity to create gourmet dining, while others perfect 'feel good' food. Regardless, the means to stave off hunger fall to these champions, and they hunger to feed. Got a hankering for a bacon-egg-and-cheese biscuit with hash browns and a coffee? A chef made that. Going with the tried and true burger, fries, and drink? Yup. A chef made that too (though many wouldn't consider them such from the looks). How about a full course meal of a salad, appetizer, entree, and desert? Chefs specialize this. Needless to say, a chef comes in all stripes, and we should recognize these heroes for who they are.
The Farmer; Wing Leaders of Nations
While the chefs help create the meals we eat, they are in need of ingredients from the land, and only one set of heroes capable of this: farmers. Farmers tend to the land and draw from it foods and produce that go to chefs for meals. They also provide guidance for the chefs in what to meals to make and crops for the families to gather produce for. Gardeners are a local form of farmers; these people have the capacity to provide some assistance be it for their neighbors or perhaps for themselves in produce. The only difference is the degree of the garden of which they tend, but the nuance is (at its core) the same.
The Cleaner; Oft forgotten Soldiers of the Homefront
None are more heroic than the cleaner, often neglected due to their nature of tending after many a soul occupy a place or event. These are the ones that empty garbage, wipe down tables and chairs, disinfect surfaces, and make the locations we so frequent shine like new. Some are called janitors, others maintenance workers, but these souls understand the value of a well-kept place, even when others may not. It is from this effort of cleanliness that they make the old new again; from restaurants, to libraries, to the streets themselves. All that take on the burden of cleanliness do so, some without thanks or acknowledgement, but all unconsciously know they are always needed. Along with cleaning the home, cleaning one's yard (if they have one) also plays into the role of the cleaner. Once again, the burden of presentation and precision falls to these artisans of the outdoors. They are needed to keep overgrowth from taking over needlessly, while also giving the land time to breathe and grow from its moments being worked on. Finally, there's the barber, a cleaner of people in that they keep facial hair down and reasonable. The challenge with them here and now is being able to aid those while upholding social distance and shield themselves from the scourge of COVID-19.
The Teacher; Nurturers of the Mind
The teacher is a necessity to build up the minds of those with futures ahead of our own. With each lesson provided by these leaders, the future is one step closer to being secured. They triumph over hardship and, for most, lack of needed resources to keep each mind under their charge with the knowledge, skills, and discipline necessary to achieve these students' goals (regardless of grade) and dreams. These are the ones that take care of children while their biological parents are working. As the pandemic rages through (and will pass through), take the time to appreciate these teachers that do the work of guiding students to a better life with their passion for their profession. Once this is over, now more than ever, teachers will be instrumental to getting our future leaders/doctors/teachers up to speed so we don't have lapse in our education. Also, teachers are now showing their heroic teaching capacity by going beyond the classroom; guiding students to further heights while staying safe and embracing the tools of today and tomorrow.
Parents; All-in-One Champions
Now we get a little closer to home, where the heart rests from the slings and arrows flown from the day. The desire to nurture is borne from the people that brought each and every one of us into this world; these souls are our parents. The ones that raised us, and guided us before we were molded by our teachers. The ones that fed us before the chefs of the world introduced us to new cuisines. These parents were farmers and gardeners of our imaginations; tending to our booboos and keeping the bad monsters away, while taking us where we need to go; be it school, the park, or a trip to the movies. While some of us are blessed with these champions, not everyone has these heroes in their lives; that's where adoptive role models fill in the gap. These parents, while not tied to children biologically, are a part of their lives emotionally and socially. They are the ones that check up on them, and aid them when they can. Some give up their time, peace and sleep for a young child to nurture and see they are successful in life; others, set them straight when they make mistakes or encourage them when these young minds and hearts are down.
Finally, You, dear Reader. . .
You, yes, you reading this now, are a hero to someone; doing your part as you help those along the way in this life we live in now. That's the beauty of a crisis; we are never so far beyond help and hope that we cannot aid our fellow human being, as well as safeguard the very world we live in. Are you one of those heroes mentioned in this page? I'd love to hear from you; just say you are one of those heroes, and just that. I trust you are that hero; you do not need to brag about it. The fact that you save lives proves you are a hero, now more than ever.
Stay safe and sound as you strive toward success, dear Reader.
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