the best one-凯发手机版

blessed indeed is the man who hears many
gentle voices call him father!
lydia m. child

when i was a little girl, my father had a time-honored tradition of tucking me into bed. following my bedtime story, he would give me a nose kiss, ¹ my stomach and whisper the most wonderful words into my ear. “michelle, of all the little girls in the whole wide world . . .” he would pause.

“ yes, daddy?”

“ how did your mommy and i get so lucky to get the best one?”
before he had time to finish, i would say, “you got me!” and then he would continue, “the best little girl in the whole wide world, and we got you.”

“ you got me!” i would scream and clap.

“ yes, you, michelle, and we’re so lucky.” he would end with a bear hug and another kiss to my forehead.

years passed and my father never missed a night, even when i thought he should have. after my basketball team was defeated, he came into my room.

“ michelle, of all the basketball players in the whole wide world,” he paused.

“ yes, daddy?” i stared at the floor.

“ how did your mom and i get so lucky to get the best one?”

“ you didn’t.”

“ of course we did, michelle. we have you.”

“ but, dad . . .”

“ yes, you, michelle, and we’re so lucky,” he cheered, as he gave me a high five followed by a bear hug and a kiss to my forehead. i thought becoming a teenager would end the ritual, but it didn’t.

“ michelle, of all the teenagers in the whole wide world . . .” he would pause.

“ dad, i’m too old for this,” i would sigh.

“ how did your mother and i get so lucky to get the best one?”

“ c’mon, dad,” i ².

“ we have you, michelle, and we’re so lucky.” then the embarrassing hug and kiss.

following college, i became engaged. my father never missed a night to call or leave a message reminding me how special i was to him. i even wondered if he would continue calling after i got married, but he didn’t. the daily calls i had taken for granted all my life ended the day he died from cancer, only weeks before my wedding.

i deeply missed sharing the day with my father.

³ behind the white church doors with my arm in my brother’s, i waited for the wedding march to begin. before we began our descent down the ⁴, my brother reached inside his pocket and handed me an ivory napkin ⁵ with pink ribbon. ⁶ were the words:

of all the precious wives in the whole wide world, how did mark get so lucky to marry the best one? he married you, michelle, and he is so lucky! i am so proud of you, my little girl.

love,
dad

without a doubt, it was the best wedding gift i received. one i would never forget. my father showered me with his gifts every day of his life. how did i get so lucky?