My Author

Yesterday, while I was on the phone with Sean, my Mom read an alert that she got on her phone. She gasped a little bit and told both of us that Beverly Cleary had died. I immediately had to give the phone to my Mom to talk to Sean because I needed a moment to gather myself because tears instantly sprung to my eyes and began to stream down my face! Sean and I were in the middle of a conversation so I cut my grieving short. I posted this on Facebook:

Just a moment after I posted this, I saw that my cousin, Melissa, posted this that I shared as well:

My Mom talked to my brother, Steve, last night and she told him about Beverly Cleary and the fact that I cried when I found out. He sighed and said that she was, “My Author” because she really was!

I grew up reading Ramona Quimby books and this morning just after I got out of bed, I told my Mom that, “Ramona was my friend!” as I started to cry again. My Mom responded with a soft “I know.” My childhood is filled with reading all of the Ramona books!

I would venture to bet that both my brothers (Jimmy and Dave) still remember the words to the Whopper Burger song from the audiobook that my Mom would play for us sometimes that she got from the library on record while we were cleaning the house! My tears continued today and I think I just need to get them all out! When Sean Connery died, I cried a lot and that was it but I think because I needed to cut my grief yesterday, it continues today.

I spoke with Sean and I told him that I am still sad and he told me that he was sorry. I told him that I cried a lot with Sean Connery but I think I’m more sad about Beverly Cleary! I also told him that I am grateful that Bono, Bradley Cooper, and Matthew Stafford are all okay!

My Mom read for me a statement from her publishing house about her death and as she was reading, I finished the sentences for her but the fact that Henry Huggins lived on the same street that Ramona and Beezus lived on (Klickitat). I wonder how long I will cry about this because she came up with one of my closest childhood friends! I have always said that I wanted to name my daughter Ramona. My Mom doesn’t like that name and I don’t even have a daughter but I think I wanted to name my daughter that because of Ramona Quimby but Ramon was my Dad’s name so that’s, “Two birds, one stone!”

Rest in peace and thank you so much for writing the books that sparked my love of reading and filled my childhood with very fond memories!!! 💜💜💜