Marco Rubio wrote a letter reflecting on the life and death of his father, and it’s full of heart-warming anecdotes about the man who led his family out of Cuba in search of a better life:
No matter how hard he worked, he always made sure we knew that we were his first priority.
As a young child, I wore braces on my legs to correct a knee problem. I hated to wear them. So my dad would call from work and pretend to be Don Shula telling me I needed to wear them if I wanted to play for the Dolphins. (I always wondered why Shula had a Cuban accent on the phone but not on TV!) […]
After high school, I went away to school in Gainesville. I lived on student loans, grants and a part time job. But every few weeks, my dad would send me a $20 bill. (I know he wished it could have been $200 or $2,000.)
My father was the most unselfish person I ever met. You had to be careful not to mention any particular need or wish around him because before you knew it, he was solving it for you.
Like the Christmas after my wedding, I happened to mention I needed to go get a Christmas tree. One hour later, I see my dad driving up with one of those trees you can buy at Winn-Dixie. It was the smallest tree we ever had. And the one I will always remember the most. […]
For years, my dad would work banquets at hotels. Many times, these events featured a well-known figure giving a speech. At these events, there are usually only two people standing behind a table. The speaker who is behind a podium, and a bartender behind the bar.
My dad was the one behind the bar. But he worked all his life so that his kids could make the symbolic journey from behind the bar to behind the podium. And in fact, I literally did.
That journey is a testament to the greatness of America. And that journey was the purpose of my father’s life.
More, very much worth reading, at the campaign’s website.