Richard Monahan

(http://www.unc.edu/ student/orgs/ kd/images/ shamrock%20 cartoon2.jpg)

What do you think of when you hear the word hero? Do you think of someone you look up to, someone who is trustworthy, and brave? When I hear the word hero I think of my Grandpa Monahan. This is because he is a person I look up to. He was incredibly trustworthy and brave.

My grandpa had 7 kids, one was my mom. He was Irish and he loved shamrocks. His favorite holiday was St. Patrick’s Day. He worked for a phone company called Northwester Bell, which sadly doesn’t exist anymore.

In 2002 my grandpa died of cancer. He was extremely brave throughout all of his treatment. He never ever complained to anyone. I knew I could trust him. If I did something bad, he wouldn’t yell at me. The most important trait of my grandpa is that he was a good role model.

I really wish I could have had more time to spend with him. There is one memory I vividly remember. Every time I came over, my grandpa would call me boy names like George or Fred. I would get so mad at him that I wouldn’t talk to him for the rest of the night. Now, I see that was just one of his many heroic traits, his laid back sense of humor. I wish I could shoot back girls' names, and we could laugh together.

My grandpa’s heroic traits play a big role in my life. They help keep me from making a big deal out of the small things, and help me to laugh at myself. He also showed me what is right and wrong. Most of all, my grandpa taught me to be me. Just like he was all the way to the end of his life.