Everyday Heroes: Bernadette Keenan

Now and again an unexpected angel comes into your life. Angels are way sneakier than demons. They don't spit up on you. They don't have green skin, and they most definitely do not use crucifixes as sex toys. In general, they walk around looking like everyone else. Sometimes they are a bus driver that happens to say just the right thing at just the right time. Other times it's an old friend that calls you just say that they love you. And other angels read every single blog I write and lets me know exactly how it connects with her life. That angel is Bernadette Keenan...a Canuklander, Mother, environmental warrior, and all around beautiful spirit.

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Bernadette in person. We connected through Facebook through a mutual friend. But for months, she has faithfully read and responded to each of the crazy rantings I post here. We have had funny and serious conversations. I learned that she has a tremendous daughter that she loves more than just about anything. I know that she works for peace and justice in Canada, that she is engaged in environmental struggles and that, according to her daughter, she dresses like a hobo.

Bernadette has gone through some things and seen some things in her life, but she has kept her head high, met life's obstacles and continued to push forward, raising her beautiful daughter and doing good in the world. This world is better for her. And I am honored that she takes time from her life to read the ramblings of some goofy dude south of the border that believes that Canadia isn't a real country and should basically be annexed to Minnesota.

Thank you for reading, Bernadette. Thanks for being an example of good Mom, and thanks for caring for the world in which we live and trying to leave it better than you found it. You are an Everyday Hero.