In Case You Didn't Know About This....

Earlier this week I received a reaffirmation of what makes life on this planet we've fouled up worth living.

In case you haven't heard of Erik Martin, allow me to give you a brief summary of his story. Erik Martin is a young and terminally ill boy. But thanks to the Make a Wish Foundation-- who, let's face it, are pretty much the most incredible charity on the face of the Earth-- he's more than that. He is a superhero.

Yes, meet Electron Boy, the daring defender of the depressed. You see, Erik Made a Wish. His Wish was to be a superhero. The Foundation, being amazing like that, decided to grant it. Not only that, they found the most unspeakably awesome way to make this happen! Erik became Electron Boy-- costume and all-- and set out on a trek across Seattle to put evil in its place. With the help of local actors and companies, the narrative played out like the best comic book movie ever made. He got to go around solving mysteries created by his evil archnemesis with the help of his sidekick, Lightning Lad. He got to meet Spider-Man and he got a key to the city. Ah, yes-- remember when the whole "key to the city" thing was a tacky cliche in such movies as Spider-Man 3, Superman III, and Rocky III? This young man actually deserved one.

Of course, this story has been zooming around the Web faster than [insert tacky, overused comic-book analogy of your choice], but I think it bears repetition because the story amazes and inspires me. I'll never forget the bravery of the boy behind Electron Boy's mask, nor those who helped his wish come true.

Even with such atrocities going on in the outside world as war, famine, and all the other evils we've come to deplore, one miracle of human kindness like this and life suddenly seems worth it all.