If I had the chance to be a hero, what would i do?  Rise to the occasion? Fail?  I always wonder whenI read stories in the paper or see on the news the narrative of a heroic moment.  A few weeks ago, a man literally jumped on to the tracks of the New York subway, even as the train was approaching,  to rescue someone who had fallen onto the tracks.   He risked his life to save another person.  Would  I do that if  I were standing on that platform?  And ofcourse, the answer is, I don’t know — and will never know unless it happens.  But still, I wonder.  Our April 19th show, GREAT EXPECTATIONS features television star Robert Gossett reading T. C. Boyle’s “La Conchita”, a story about just such a moment where a man’s capacity for heroism is put to the test as an emergency suddenly develops.  What does he do?  What would you do?

In light of this upcoming story, my questions to you are:  Do you ever imagine what you would do in an emergency situation should someone in your view be in danger and you had to choose whether or not to put yourself at risk to help?  If so, what do you imagine and what action do you take or not take? What “Great Expectations” do you have of yourself?  Do you ever experience yourself as an “everyday hero”, dedicating yourself in some way to the welfare of others?  When you were young did you ever imagine yourself as a Superhero, saving the world?