Being Someone's Hero

I'm brand new to blogging. I've never even really looked at any before I started this one. I have no idea what I'm doing. Probably not something I should mention to my audience, but didn't I just say I'm brand new to this? SO GET OFF MY BACK!... Sorry, that was uncalled for. I'm just going to wing it and make up the rules as I go along. I've decided (in the few seconds since I started this post) that the first five "real" posts (as opposed to the imaginary one I did already)* will focus around heroes. Super, real-life, idols, fallen; whatever type strikes me when I start each post. So here it goes, the first of a series of five "hero posts".
*You may have noticed that I like to use a lot of asides for humor (it's an addiction)

This evening, after a family dinner at my parents, my three-year-old niece was giving out hugs before we all left to go to our respective homes. She went through the usual motions that she always does when my sister tells her it's time to go, giving a quick hug and saying goodbye, until she got to me. She held on tight, snuggled her head on my shoulder, and told me clearly "I love you, Joe. Have a happy Easter." Where did that come from? More importantly, what did I do to deserve special treatment? She has other aunts and uncles that I know she loves just as much.
I'm not saying that I'm her hero. That honor falls to either my father (affectionately called "Bop Bop") or Barney the dinosaur. But every time she reaches for me when she's sad, or gives me one of those heart-melting hugs, I have to wonder: "what heroic things have I done for this child that she treats me thusly?" I'm usually pretty out of my depth with kids. I don't have the energy it usually takes to entertain them. I just try to do my best and try to keep my patience until another adult can be in charge and I can take a break. I'm not trying win her affection, and who knows, that may be how I got it. Either way, I didn't realize I earned it. All in all, it makes me realize: my heroes didn't know they were my heroes.
My two biggest idols are Jim Henson, who's message of peace and love through entertainment touches something deep in my soul, and my father, which is something my niece and I have in common. Jim Henson had been dead 12 years when I was in the eighth grade and featured him in an oral essay on "Heroes". Obviously he didn't hear the news about his heroism, and even if he had been alive, I seriously doubt he would have heard about some random essay (I'm not saying he definitely wouldn't, just that it's doubtful.) And then there's my father, who is much too modest to think of himself in such a way (which actually plays a big part in my opinion of him.)
To the point; I'm pretty sure we all have someone who sees us as a hero whether we realize it or not. So what I hope you take from this is simple: Someone out there thinks you're heroic; prove them right.