The Story of the Superman Keychain and What It Means to Me

My buddy Ramses gave me this Superman keychain a couple years before he passed. We would bond over superheroes, and he was the one that really got me into Superman. One day we were geeking out about Superman, and I told him, “man, I can’t believe I don’t own a single thing of Superman merch.” Before I could even finish my sentence, he reached into his pocket, took his new Superman keychain off his keys, and gave it to me. It’s been on my keys ever since.

I love that memory because it was the perfect example of how giving and loving he always was. When I see the keychain now, it’s a reminder to carry on his examples of goodness in my actions and who I am. It’s a reminder to be my best self (which is what Superman means to me and which Ramses helped me to see.) Superman’s true superpowers are not his things like strength, flight, and speed. It’s his ability to always do the right thing even when no one is looking, to never give up no matter how much the chips are down, and to have empathy and love for others. No one can achieve this all the time, not even Superman, “but it’s the pursuit that’s meaningful.” I love that my friend gave me something to remember him and his goodness, and something to help “dig me up from under what is covering the better part of me” whenever I may need.

“The Superman Keychain” - gouache on paper 6” x 6”