Maurice Sendak died today. A light in my world extinguished.

In January it’s so nice

While slipping on the sliding ice

To sip hot chicken soup with rice

Sipping once, sipping twice

Sipping chicken soup with rice

Long ago, a little brown haired girl was learning to read, sitting in the cafeteria with a school aide. Dick and Jane running were no fun at all – but Chicken Soup with Rice captured her imagination.

Reading skills quickly advanced, and with it came bigger books the little brown haired girl was growing up.

Soon, the little brown haired girl was little no more. Maurice Sendak tucked away in some corner of her mind with other childhood memories.

Before long, the brown haired girl had children of her own. She introduced Maurice to her little ones, and they loved him as she did.

We “paddled” down the Chicken soup-y Nile and Whooped about Witches, Goblins, and Ghosts. We marveled in our baubled and bangled Christmas tree. Maurice in his gentle wisdom opened our minds to looking at things in unexpected ways.

He reminded us that even when we grow old it is important to nurture the child.

I told you once, I told you twice

All seasons of the year are nice

For eating chicken soup with rice.

Farewell Maurice. You left this world a better place. Thank you…