Although they are most usually associated with "super heroes" such as Batman, Daredevil, Spider-Man, Iron Man, in comic books, it is worth noting that in a certain sense we ALL have "secret identities" in a way- we ALL keep a side of ourselves hidden, one that very few if any people get to see.

Case in point: the prim and proper bank manager or attorney who moonlights as a "drag queen". the CIA or MI-6 "spook", the US Navy SEAL or SAS trooper, the "Mob" hit man(like the late Richard Kuklinski of "The Iceman" fame)

Of course it always seemed funny to me- who would suspect playboy industrialist Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne as being the Dark Knight of Gotham City or the Golden Avenger( this is before Stark "outed" himself as did Steve Rogers aka Captain America, the Star Spangled Sentinel Of Liberty- a cynic might note that neither Stark or Rogers had wives, children or siblings- they could afford to reveal their secret identities to the world!)- it just seems so out of character. But of course just how WELL do you know anyone- even a family member or friend? Chances are they hide some aspect of themselves from you- or even themselves!

You try imaging someone you know, calmly eating their breakfast cereal across the table from you as( insert name of super hero/heroine here)- almost as nonsensical as imagining mild mannered reporter Clark Kent as the Man Of Steel

(Superman) US Navy Yeoman Diana Prince(as Lynda Carter played her in the 1970s TV series "Wonder Woman), photographer Peter Parker as "your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man", nerdy scientist or wimpy doctor Bruce Banner or Don Blake as the Incredible Hulk or The God Of Thunder Thor respectively.

As with undercover police officers or spies who have been in deep cover for too long and who risk "going native", the question can be asked in a certain sense-"who am I in reality- my role or the person I am?"

It's not an easy question to answer- as we all have many masks( personas), parent, child, spouse, soldier, police officer,attorney but I believe that the only people we can ultimately be is OURSELVES!

Anybody think as I do?

Terry