America Deserves A Raise

My dad, my hero.  I’m sure plenty of little girls think their dad is the best dad in the world.  I’m no exception.  My father has been the best dad a family could ever ask for.  Born and raised in a small farming community in Mexico, he is one of the last few real cowboys in this world.  My dad has worked in masonry for over 30 years.  It’s a physically demanding job, especially here in AZ where the summer heat quickly reaches over 100 degrees.  He spent hours outside all his life, and was always willing to help others in any way possible.  As he got older, we got concerned about his health.  He was over 60 and still putting in 8 hours a day laying block, suffering in the AZ heat.  The family asked him to quit, asked him to slow down, but that’s not how dad is.  He wants to, needs to be physically working.  Last summer, dad’s heart told him he HAD to slow down.  He had an irregular heartbeat, and clots in his lungs.  He spent a week in the ICU, and doctors told him to take it easy.  The day after he got released from the hospital, he went out and mowed the backyard.  We can’t keep him down, but he has agreed to retire from masonry.  This leaves my mom and him living on one-income.  My dad owned his own business, so he doesn’t really get a retirement package.  This man taught me to drive, taught me to shoot a gun, taught me to fish, encouraged me every step I took in life, instilled me with family values and morals, and gave me everything I needed in life.  Not only that, but he is the absolute best grandpa to my 9 month old daughter.  I know he wants to be able to work, wants to continue to “support” his family.  Please give my dad the raise he deserves.