Mom & Dad
Father’s Day is the day when the world stops to recognize the great men that have profoundly affected our lives. Today is that day, the day to commemorate those heroes that have lived their lives for the good of others.
I am here today to honor the life of my father, Manuel Saavedra.
He was born on Jane 6, 1929. He was the second of six children. Being such, he took on a lot of responsibility in the family even at a young age.
My father is truly a man of faith and prayer Also, never have I met a more giving and self-sacrificing man than my father.
.My father, Manuel Saavedra is in some ways an enigma, perhaps hiding his own feelings very well behind his “few words” style and his non-judgmental ways. But one thing is very certain to all who know him; one thing was always evident no matter what he is involved in:
this is a “good” man. He cares about people, he cares about community, and he is willing to pull his weight to make good things happen, whether or not it benefited him directly. He has always sacrificed everything to make our lives better than what he had. But my father’s generosity has always considered others before himself. To him, character counts: hence the loyalty, hence the principled action, and the “goodness” about him. He looks for it in others, and he embodied it in himself. He knows right from wrong, and lives like it matters. Growing up, he instilled it in each of us: character matters. There is a right and a wrong. In our family, we do it this way.I never felt the absence of love between us. It was a given that his love was there, unspoken perhaps - but that quiet, non-verbal way was just part of who he is - and the loyalty that I know and respect of him not being a quitter, carried the day. We didn't miss a beat in caring for one another.
Those early years were important years - formative for each of us - and he poured himself into fathering in the best way he knew: by showing us by example the value of hard work and industry, of courage, and pride in doing a good work, of being courteous and cheerful, of kindness. I remember the lessons we learned from fishing with him. He invited us to join him and modeled for us these wonderful attributes that we have managed to carry with us into adulthood. Those early lessons sunk deeply into each one of us - my brother and I - lessons of character, lessons of action, and lessons of respect for others.
He also taught us, really - the value of life long learning. I mean, how many 79 year olds do you know that are learning - and teaching - preaching.
I remember as a kid thinking, “Dad can do anything!”
He has always been fearless and brave. He showed this to us when we were kids in the way he faced things; and still today he faces all his situation with bravery.
He is not afraid of death. He accepted the diagnosis of a life threatening condition with his usual fearless aplomb, and then walked through every bit of it with courage and with dignity. He faced this part of his life with the same good character as he had shown throughout his life: Dad is brave, he has always remained loyal to his friends and the activities he had committed to, and he continued to show love toward us. He included us in the decisions he was faced with, but he was the captain of his ship. He has remained steadfast to his inner principles that had carried him throughout life.
The memories that I carry in my own self;
the ways I see him in how I myself am in the world today;
the ways I see him in my brother: his legacy, really, is in the people he touched. There were many here in Miami, and others during his New York years; but perhaps none more than the three of us - Mom, Alex and I.
My dad - even with the imperfections that we all carry to one extent or another - is a great Dad and a wonderful man.
I still carry today in my mind an image from my childhood - an iconic image, really, filled now with much more meaning and emotion than the image itself might deserve.
His sacrifices for us have always reminded with me through the years of his strength, of his love, of his care for me.
Dad embodies a fearless confidence - in himself, and in the future.
I wrote a poem as I thought about that image, and thought about the things I've said here today, and I'd like to share that poem with you now:
All these long years of unspoken love captured ages ago on grainy film, now carried in my mind - Still, and even more clearly - free to grow, O free to share - Strength, courage, confidence: yes, there he still remains - Strong, Courageous, Confident: still after all these long years. No, I can't erase - never wanting to, really - that strong hand, that care, that smile - Loving the kind brave love embodied there. Wordless as it was, truly it was, still, and time moves it forward, past becomes present becomes future, love passed on, yes, and now?
Even now, Dad's strong hand calls forth, Godspeed, son, Godspeed.
Confidence! Courage! Love...