Maurice Sendak, RIP

 

Once a little boy sent me a charming card with a little drawing on it. I loved it. I answer all my children’s letters — sometimes very hastily — but this one I lingered over. I sent him a card and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, “Dear Jim: I loved your card.” Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said, “Jim loved your card so much he ate it.” That to me was one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received. He didn’t care that it was an original Maurice Sendak drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.
― Maurice Sendak

When my girls were young, I would read “Where the Wild Things Are” to them every night. It never got old. It never got tired. There is an openness to it that makes it timeless and ageless. Mr. Sendak didn’t believe in childhood. He believed in human beings.

I said anything I wanted because I don’t believe in children I don’t believe in childhood. I don’t believe that there’s a demarcation. ‘Oh you mustn’t tell them that. You mustn’t tell them that.’ You tell them anything you want. Just tell them if it’s true. If it’s true you tell them.
― Maurice Sendak

I am overcome with nostalgia and sweet melancholy. I remember being a young mother with babes. It was the most profound time of my life. That is, until this year. Both of my babes have or are having their own little ones. And I will most definitely read “Where the Wild Things Are” to my beautiful grandsons.

Here is a video from Bill Moyers interviewing Maurice Sendak.

Rest in Peace and Thank You, Mr. Sendak.

Please don’t go. We’ll eat you up. We love you so.
― Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

Here is a video from Bill Moyers interviewing Maurice Sendak: