I just wanted to clarify one thing: The first of Beverly Cleary’s books to focus on Ramona and Beezus Quimby, “Beezus and Ramona,” is told from Beezus’s perspective. In it, Ramona is four years old. The next 7 books in the Ramona series, however, are told from Ramona’s perspective (The film pulls heavily from these 7 books). Time passes between each book, and Ramona is in the 4th grade in the final novel, “Ramona’s World.” In the last couple books, therefore, Ramona and Beezus are around the ages of the characters in the film. Here is a great little article explaining why the filmmakers decided to have the girls be the ages they are in the final books: http://www.boston.com/community/moms/blogs/in_the_parenthood/2010/07/the_stars_of_ramona_and_beezus_on_family.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

But, I am so sorry to read about your father. I lost my father very suddenly when I was a child. I’ve had friends watch parents die slowly. I don’t think there is ever a good way, or time to lose a parent. You, and your father, have my prayers!

Facebook is doing that to me, too, reminding me about a lost friend’s birthday, etc. At first, it was like a slap in the face, those reminders, but now? Now it’s almost like he’s peeking behind a curtain and giving me a wave and a wink, like we have a secret: everybody else thinks he’s gone but he and I know he’s not. Not really.

As long as we remember someone with love, they’re never really gone. Your friend was genuinely fortunate to have YOU for a friend.