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I didn't really know my father when I was growing up. One thing stands out above everything else when it comes to my father: Superman.

When I was six years old on one of those few occasions that I got to spend time with him, he bought me a Superman doll. The doll was about 7" tall, he was fresh from the box: red cape, blue tights, red boots, and the 'S' was on his chest. During that weekend Superman came to life; fighting the bad guys and saving many damsels in distress. Coincidentally, the damsels all bore a striking resemblance to my little sister. I travelled with Superman to his fortress of solitude, met Lois Lane, and even that treacherous Lex Luthor. This happened all in one weekend.

At the end of that visitation I stood Superman up on a shelf and asked my father to hold onto him for me. I told my father that Superman would protect him while I was away. My father told me that Superman would always be there when I wanted him. Little did I know, that was the last time I would see Superman or my father for several years.

I would visit my father four more times over the course of the next 28 years: the first thing I looked for when I would arrive was Superman. He was there as promised, looking a little more ragged each time: I'd have to straighten him up a bit, dust him off. We'd talk about Superman and that weekend, and he'd repeat him promise to keep Superman and that he would be ready whenever I wanted him. I would then gingerly place Superman back up on his perch and remind my father that Superman was there to protect him.

On my final visit to my fathers home, I found Superman again; only this time Superman came home with me. He came home with me because my father had passed away. Unfortunately, Superman wasn't strong enough to protect him from the heart attack that took him.

When Superman arrived at my home he took his rightful place on a shelf overlooking my place. Each time I look at him, I'm reminded of my father. I don't have many memories of him, but that is one I will have forever.

The best gift I've ever received was not the doll, it was the promise that my father made, and kept: Superman would always be there when I wanted him.

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