Are you there Judy Blume? It's Me, Maria

Tough drive back from Maine today
Because the weather sucks, I have to pee, we need to go grocery shopping, we're still 40 minutes from home and Lucy's been cranky since Saco

But then I saw two things on my feed that made me smile

This was one of them

Judy Blume, you have been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember

You've made me laugh, cry, think, repent and dream

When I was younger, I wanted to write just like you
I'm not sure I'll ever get there so instead, I just keep re-reading your books (I just finished It's Not the End of the World)

I used to keep a journal
I started each entry with Are you there Judy Blume? It's me, Maria

Your got me through puberty, crushes, my first broken heart and being chubby

I wrote you a couple fan letters hoping we'd become pen pals
We never did

But I still think you are the coolest

I mean your books have been challenged and banned because you wrote about periods and sex (alone and with someone) and racism and stuff no one can talk to kids about without getting red in the face

But you spoke to a whole generation of kids without batting an eyelash
And I think you helped change the way that generation spoke to their kids about growing up

And I think your impact will be felt for years to come

So thanks for being there for me Judy Blume....even though you never wrote back, I knew you were there

Happy Birthday