My strongest memory of the Clinton affair will always be how adults worried about how to explain his behavior to children and mourning the loss of heroes as this significant figurehead modeled his clay feet for all to see. I've thought much about the need for heroes in a society where those in the limelight sometimes seem integrity blind and dim our sense and sensibilities. My perspective changed last month with a string of events that revealed heroes all around me, all I had to do was look.

I attended Spoleto for the first time, expecting to be lifted by the power of art. The music and aesthetic was most definitely a boost, but surprisingly, my greatest joy came from another direction. At the same time Charleston celebrated the arts, they honored sixteen men and women who had left this home port on September 26, 1998 to skipper solo the 27,000 "Around Alone" race around the world. When these men and women mounted a stage to receive their accolades, each seemed touch with a humility and a bit of confusion about all the hoopla. I read their stories later in Tony Bartelme and Brian Hicks' into the wind: Around Alone, the story of the world's longest race (Evening Post Publishing Company, $35.00). I read how the Russian sailor, Viktor Vazykov, a former member of the Soviet special forces developed a abscess a thousand miles from Cape Town. With e-mailed instructions and without the benefit of anesthetic, or medical training, he drained his gangrene-threatening wound by himself. When Isabelle Autissier's boat capsized in 38 degree water in the middle of nowhere, Italian Giovanni Soldini gave up the lead to rescue his friend, declaring, "I've already won, I saved Isabelle." Then he went on to win the race after all!

Several weeks after returning home, I read about Josh Hamilton. This Raleigh high school senior, selected for baseball's number one draft pick, launched his career with a 3.65 million dollar signing bonus. Like most young men, he wanted to use some of the money for a new car, but his first plan was to make his parents debt- free. This generosity of spirit had roots in his upbringing; this hero was born of heroes. In the same article, his father stated that he and the boy's mother had been to every single ball game since Josh began, except one his mother missed due to a terrible flu. When confronted at his factory job about which was more important baseball or work, Josh's father easily chose baseball, and dashed off to see his son's game. The happy ending? Josh's father was able to quit that job and plans to travel with his wife to every single game their son plays.

That same weekend I attended my first Project Graduation. What a stupendous affair...gobs of prizes perfect for college-bound students from lap tops to vacuum cleaners, free laser tag and bowling, an Improv room, incredible food donated by area restaurants and shops, casino tables with chips that could be cashed in for more prizes, trampoline basket ball, and more. Who had more fun? The kids, or the adults who loved watching their children roam happily and safely through the heavenly activities? The seventh Project Graduation was built on the dedication and generosity of hundreds of heroes, all contributing to make the event work. From Don Luse, Director of UNC's Student Center who has made the building available at a minimal cost and attended annually for seven years. For a solid year, Laura and Warren Piver and Rosemary Edgerton, co-chaired the project along with a student-volunteer steering committee of 46, thirty committee chairs and their dedicated members. These hardworking heroes obtaining prizes and food donations from hundreds of local businesses. This year over six hundred contributors (parents, business and community members) made the finances work and the event was pulled off with the help of 170 parents and teachers who chaperoned, snapped pictures, kept the food tables overflowing, ran games, poured chocolate milk, set up and cleaned up. The collaborative effort of all these heroes made for a safe and memorable event that surpassed any graduation celebration I've ever heard of.

Several weeks ago, I began a 90+ degree berry-picking day in Wendell by landing in the ditch with a friend. Desperate to catch us up before heat stroke set in, I began picking and left her to the kindness of strangers. When she made her way to the berry bushes, she was overwhelmed not by the heat, but by the caring of the members of this small community. At least ten cars stopped to see if she was all right, everyone from teenagers to grandparents showed concern. Three separate people offered to tow her out. One man insisted on staying with her until she was towed, and another steered her car ding the towing process. When she expressed marvel, one woman told her, "that's what we're here to do, help each other out."

With heroes like these, everywhere in our lives, every day performing large and small acts of valor and caring continually, who needs to look to national figureheads and sports' idols for hope.