The View From the Stands

On Fatherhood, Work, and Being There

A candid shot of Alex (blue shirt) at the rail, taken by Rachel

Last night Ellie was cheering at her high school football game and I found myself standing at the rail so I could get a better view. Rachel took this picture without me knowing. I love this photo for a lot of reasons, including that spectacular Florida sky - we really do love living here.

Many things can be true at the same time. Of course I wish I had won the primary. I loved campaigning and I loved traveling around Florida, meeting people, hearing their stories, and talking about what I believe we can do for this state and this country. Losing was disappointing and I am not going to pretend otherwise. But one of the things I’ve always tried very hard to be is a present father, and I’m happy to have a lot more time to simply be Dad.

My own father loved my brothers and me enormously. I never doubted that, but he came to the United States in his late 40s, an immigrant starting over in a new country with three young sons (and eventually a fourth stepson) to support. He worked a union job and took every hour of overtime he could get. He wasn’t always able to be there because providing for us was how he took care of us.

That job gave our family a foothold in America. His union wages and benefits helped provide the stability that allowed four immigrant kids to grow up believing there was no limit to what they might become. It was our family’s entrance into the American Dream.

Obviously that’s also on my mind this weekend as we celebrate Labor Day. My father’s work gave me opportunities he never had. One of the ways I’ve tried to honor his sacrifice is by making sure that, when I can be there, I am.

My Army career meant I missed things, too. Deployments, training, long days, and time away are part of military life. I can’t get any of those days back. So these days, I am not going to take the ordinary ones for granted.

A high school football game, a spectacular Florida sunset, and my daughter cheering on the sidelines. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.