Virginia Rubio

My heroes are my Mom & Dad.They both have led extremely hard lives and they perservered. They were both very strong people and that is a trait that I truely admire in anyone. My Dad had a very interesting life. Though he was not well educated he spoke many languages (I wish I could remember the Chinese he taught me.). He spoke Tagalog,Chinese,Japanese(and naturally because he was a veteran of World War II, French & German),as well as Spanish. He knew enough of each language to carry on a conversation or a fight. Spanish & English were his first languages. He worked in the fields, in canneries,and finally as a truck driver. He's gone now & I miss him dearly. I miss his help,advice & support...and the stories...the stories he told!!Whenever i see an older model semi.I smile,shed a tear,&remember him. I know he is watching over me.My Mom had a very hard life as well.She worked in the fields as well as in canneries. She worked hard all her life,even as a Housewife & Mother. My Mom being the wiser of the two managed to give us what we needed and sometimes even what we wanted. Without my Mom we never would have had a home to call our own. She scrimped & saved until she had enough for a down payment on a house(houses would be considered Dirt Cheap by today's standards).She was very creative, though perhaps not artistically, she was more creative in her cooking. She was a wonderful cook! VERY CREATIVE!! She had to be, as we often did'nt have enough money. I inherited her creativity both artistically as well as in the kitchen. Through osmosis I learned how to make TAMALES,ADOBO,ENCHILADAS& CHILES RELLENOS and a whole lot more, just as good if not better than hers.I wish my Mom were here with me and healthy, but the ravages of a hard life, time & Parkinsons Disease have taken their toll on her. I am proud to have been the Daughter of two of the most strong, upstanding,creative, interesting people anyone possibly could ever know.They truely are my heroes. Thanks for everything Mom & Dad!!! You are always in my thoughts and forever in my heart.