Yesterday during lunchtime, I kicked off my exploration of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Phase One, starting with Iron Man.
Marvel’s first superhero movie taps into all the stereotypes of a “cool” guy with Iron Man: he’s handsome, gets all the girls, gambles, drinks, and swims in a sea of wealth. I will admit, at one point I did think to myself – Damn, it would be nice to be Tony Stark.
After I finished my lunch, I paused the movie halfway through and left the house to work on some tasks on campus. I was in a wonderful mood. The sun was shining, I wore my fresh corduroy cap and sunglasses, and my new book sat in my backpack. I was jamming too. I snapped my fingers, shook my hips a tiny bit, and grooved happily as listened to some of my recent favorite tunes on Spotify (Spite by Bryce Bishop and still feel. by half·alive). I thought about how great post-grad life can be and how free I am to live and act and travel independently.
As I strolled up N Columbia St. to its intersection with Franklin St., a group of four dressed in business attire walked past me. As the group and I crossed paths on the sidewalk, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a man and woman sitting on a step to a building.
I kept walking, but once I reached the intersection, I stopped in my tracks. Something felt off. I re-imagined my peripheral vision. Something was spilled on the ground. A stream slowly moved down the sidewalk. The man who sat on the step seemed to be the age of a student. The woman appeared elderly. Wait. She was sitting folded over, head between her knees. She was unwell.
I concluded that something was wrong, and the man was assisting the woman. I stood at the intersection debating what to do. I counted to five, then made my decision: I turned around to see what was up.
As I sat down next to the two, I asked if everything was okay. Kevin, also a recent graduate from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was on the phone with 9-1-1 and calmly indicated to me that he was handling everything. I wanted to help out, but I really did not know much of what to do at that point in time.
Kevin really did have everything under control.
He had helped walk the woman up the street as she looked for a comfortable sport to sit. He chatted with the woman and gave her company as her body collapsed onto the step. He gave her water, a fig bar, and some sugar packets to provide some energy to help her continue with her day. He comforted this stranger whose husband had passed away just days before. He did everything he could to get her the help she needed and make her day just a bit better.
He inspires you to meet strangers. He uplifts you, showing that the world is a place of love. He encourages you to offer helping heart to those you might not know. He reminds you of the good that everyone has the capacity to do.
Kevin and I departed when the paramedics arrived to help the woman get situated. I believe our new friend will be okay and recover soon.
Kevin is not Iron Man, but his actions epitomize the superhero within us all.
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