Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Powhatan resident Randy Schulkers, the grandson of the late children’s book author Robert Schulkers and one of the most genuinely nice people I’ve had the privilege to meet.

Randy had brought in a few items pertaining to Seckatary Hawkins, the famous character his grandfather had created, including a number of books, a framed news clipping, and a 10-inch-tall statue of the “Seck” Hawkins, a pudgy, happy little fellow that the elder Schulkers had used to represent honesty, fairness and a host of other positive traits.

It’s easy to see why Schulkers would have a special connection to the character, especially after he described the many happy hours he had spent in his grandfather’s writing room, listening to him spin tales of Seck and his adventures.

What I couldn’t seem to figure out, and what I have given considerable thought to, is just why I was so taken with this little character.

I think it may go back to a particular set of experiences that I share with all people around my age, let’s say between 25 and 35.

Of course I can only speak to what I myself have experienced, but it seems to me that my generation has seen our fair share of heroes fall.

Just consider for a moment a few of the people we look up to in our society (in no particular order): our parents, our entertainment and sports heroes, our religious leaders and our president.

If you are a young adult my age there is a very good chance you grew up in a single parent home. Your favorite entertainers are probably in rehab and your sports heroes may be testifying before Congress as you read this.

The phrase “Presidential sex scandal” was probably coined right around the time you were in high school and, if you happened to be a Catholic as I am, it has been even worse.

My point is, if you’ve been looking hard for someone to model yourself after for the last 30 years or so, you may have found yourself coming up short more often than not.

And if it feels some days as if all of your heroes are letting you down, it may not be too hard to see why.

I think this is why something in the stories Schulkers told me struck such a chord. I know that there were plenty of unsavory events 50 years ago, but it also seems that the overarching values of respect, honesty, and integrity—everything Robert Schulkers wrote about—were not just campaign slogans then.

I’ve decided to keep Ol’ Seck in mind from now on, sort of adopting him as my own little mascot for when it starts to seem as though the world has gone just a little bit crazy.

He may be old, and he may not be real, but Lord if he’s not refreshing.