Everyone has a man in their life that they hold with reverence. Mine happens to be my grandfather. I would write of my father but he's still live and well so I'll hold out on writing a dedication to him.

My grandfather, Harry was an outstanding man and a mountain of manliness. He held himself to personally study current scientific theories and discoveries, kept an exquisite rock collection, read through books on various birds, and tending his own yard and garden with finesse. When I was younger he was a symbol of mischievous fun and adventure, often sneaking candy to me and my brothers and always raring to take us outside to jump in his wheelbarrow; running us around till we got tuckered out. I loved spending time with that man. He was a collection of knowledge and stories that inspired me to want to do great things. He liked science, so I studied science; he likes rocks, so I walked around and picked up rocks along the shore or even on my father's farm. I wanted to be that man so I started to mimic his example.

I contribute a lot of my fascinations to him. Even now in college I walk past the geology section and have caught stare at the crystal formations for hours. And now that he's passed away I wish I could have spent more time with him when I was growing up since my family split and move around the area a bit. In him I saw everything that was good. He was wisdom and he was virtue. After his death I skimmed through his bible, which was well used and notes covered every margin. Today I wear a leather jacket that he once wear. In it I feel like a strong and confident man, and imagine retracing my grandfathers steps.

Think of the hero in your life. Idealize someone even though you know that no one is perfect. The only way to become a great man in the eyes of your son, your grandson, is to reach for the limit. No one can be a hero without having a hero themselves.