The Best Girl in the World

Is heading to college

Best Girl in the World (from February 2011)

Long before dawn, as the house shook in the wind’s grip of this cold February morning I shuffled to the perking coffee pot till I heard seven-year-old Johanna stir and quietly say, “daddy, may I have a drink of water,” and I pulled a ceramic mug from the cupboard and poured cool water from the tap and brought it to her, watching as she miraculously stirred from her covers and rose to take the cup, her hands touching mine in the glow of her night light. Briefly. Warmly. Her delicate sips took off on butterfly wings, then slowed, then stopped, and she handed the half-full cup to me as she settled back under the covers and her small, warm hands held mine as she sighed and retreated into sleep, and I kissed her forehead, felt her breath and whispered into her dreams “you’re the best girl in the world, the prettiest girl in the world, and the smartest girl in the world and no daddy in the world has ever loved his little girl as much as I love you.” And I took her cup and drank from it as I walked away, slowly savoring her essence left in the water till the cup was empty and I pulled my shoes and coat and hat on and went out into the wind and cold and darkness towards work, not noticing the weather anymore, her warmth, mine.

From Deep Midwest: Midwestern Explorations.

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Annie and I dropped off Johanna Sunday at her new dorm room at the University of Iowa, where she plans to study psychology. The whole, wide world is like an open book before her. So full of joy, with much pride in her, with our love for her, and we will miss her so very much, even though she is only a couple of hours away.

Her essence still fills me, her warmth, mine.

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Before you go, Julie Gammack has pulled together some Iowa scribblers trying to make a difference. If you value our work, please share, subscribe, and comment. And if you can afford to, be a paid subscriber.

Here we are, in alphabetical order:

Laura Belin: https://laurabelin.substack.com/about

Doug Burns: https://theiowamercury.substack.com/about

Art Cullen: https://artcullen.substack.com/about

Julie Gammack: https://okobojiwriters.substack.com/about

Beth Hoffman: https://inthedirt.substack.com/about

Bob Leonard: https://rleonard.substack.com/about

Chuck Offenburger: https://chuckoffenburgeriowa.substack.com

Mary Swander: https://maryswander.substack.com/about

Iowa Writers: https://iowawriters.substack.com/about