Some things  in life go unnoticed.  Or perhaps, they are just under rated.  It could be anything really.

Pickles, for instance.  They don’t get due credit.  But for me, a cheeseburger just is not complete until it has a ridiculous amount of pickles on it.  Or consider the pickle and any kind of mayonnaise salad… like potato salad, or ham salad.  It has to have little bits of pickle chopped up in it… or it just doesn’t fly.

But perhaps, one of the biggest things that gets overlooked are sidekicks.  And there is not one bit of glory in being a sidekick.  But you know…. every good Super Hero has a Sidekick. The mission would not be complete without them.  The day could not be saved.  The happy ending would not be quite as happy without the sidekick.

But the sidekick serves without question.

Take Batman.  And of course, his little helping hand.    Big Bruce always says…. “To the Bat Cave, Robin.”  Not one dang time … does Robin EVER say… “I’d rather not.  Let’s say we go straight to the mansion and watch Alfred bake cookies.”

But.  If Batman gets in a jam, old Robin is always there.  POW-ing…. and BLAMMO-ing…. and KA-PUNCH-ing his way out of every mess.

Yet, the crowds always cheer for the Superhero.  There is no acclaim or homage for the sidekick.  They just serve their purpose.  Those little kickers are the close companions who are generally regarded as subordinate to the Head Honcho.  And their costumes are never quite as nifty either.

The origin of the word is unknown also.  There is a theory that it meant “kicked to the side” and another which relates to pants’ pockets being called “kicks”.  Who knows?  Oh the Sidekick.

There are slews of them.  Barney Rubble to Fred Flintstone.  Igor to Dr. Frankenstein.  Jimmy Olsen to Clark Kent.  Piglet to Pooh.   Barney Fife to Andy Taylor.  Gromit to Wallace.  Ethel to Lucy.  Watson to Sherlock.   And Donkey to Shrek.

I guess the lesson to be learned is that we all can’t be Super Heroes.  Sometimes, it is just as important, or maybe even MORE SO, do to the small things.  To be the support.  To save the day when no one else is watching.

It could be anything.  A smile to someone who needs to see it.  Opening the door for a stranger.  Buying someone lunch who is down on their luck.  Coloring a picture with a kid.  Telling a friend how important they are to you.

Yes, I think that might be it.  If we can’t leap tall buildings…. we can put our coat down over a puddle for someone on the street.  We may not be able to run faster than a speeding bullet, but I bet we can walk beside someone, and offer a hand in support.

Pass the pickles Tonto.  Yabba Dabba Do.

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Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.  —  Dalai Lama

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The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.  —  Albert Schweitzer