Happy 100th Birthday to my favorite author (or, at least one of the top 100....)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEVERLY CLEARY!!!

The author of my childhood

The starter of so many of my dreams

The fueler of my ideas

For instance-

All her life she had wanted to squeeze the toothpaste really squeeze it,not just one little squirt...

and...

After Father had served the chicken and mashed potatoes and peas and Mother had passed the hot rolls, Beezus decided the time had come to tell Aunt Beatrice about being Sacajawea. "Do you know what I did last week?" she began. "I want some jelly," said Ramona "You mean, 'Please pass the jelly,' "corrected Mother while Beezus waited patiently. 'No, what did you do last week?" asked Aunt Beatrice. "Well, last week I-" Beezus began again. " like purple jelly better then red jelly," said Ramona. ' Ramona , stop interrupting your sister," said Father. "Well, I do like purple jelly better then red jelly," insisted Ramona."Never mind," said Mother. "Go no, Beezus." Last week-" said Beezus, looking at her aunt, who smiled as if she understood."Excuse me, Beezus," Mother cut in. "Ramona, we do not put jelly on our mashed potatoes." "I like jelly on my mashed potatoes."Ramona stirred potato and jelly around with her fork. "Ramona you heard what your mother said." Father looked stern. "If I can put butter on my mashed potatoes, why can't I put jelly? I put butter and jelly on toast," said Ramona. Father couldn't help laughing. "That's a hard question to answer." "But Mother-" Beezus began."I like jelly on my mashed potateos," interrupted Ramona, looking sulky.”

<Read it all--it's great>

and...

“Say, who is this Mr. King?” “What Mr. King?” asked Ramona, walking into his trap. “Nosmo King,” 

I've been WAITING to be able to use this FOREVER....

and...
Ramona could not understand why grown-ups always talked about how quickly children grew up. Ramona thought growing up was the slowest thing there was, slower even than waiting for Christmas to come.

She had been waiting years just to get to kindergarten, and the last half hour was the slowest part of all 

She's able to put into words so many feelings that I've had ever since childhood...and is one of my favorite authors of all time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!