GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 19

cover story
Listen to your gut
According to a recent AARP interview, Judy
explained that you should listen to your gut. " I was
having dinner with my husband, George, one night
in 2018 when I noticed something wasn't right. He
looked yellow. It was the weekend, and he said he
felt fine, that he'd go to the doctor on Monday. I
said, " No, no, no. Now. " We called our doctor, who
told us to get to the ER right away. George had pancreatic
cancer. He got treatment immediately. He is
one of the very, very lucky ones who has survived. He
is beautiful, healthy, handsome, fabulous. "
"
Now at the age of 85, Judy Blume
has published more than 25 novels
that have been translated into 32
languages, selling more than 85
million copies (and counting.)
Blume continues to speak her truth by confronting
the current censorship movement and banning
of books. Books & Books proudly offers a dedicated
section of the store for books being banned. She is
quoted as saying " Having the freedom to read and the
freedom to choose is one of the best gifts a parent
can give a child. " The same message holds true for
grandparents and their grandchildren.
According to an ABC News wire, " Censors have
offered their own kind of tribute to Blume by trying to
keep young people from reading her. " Forever, " " Are
You There God? " and " Deenie " have been frequently
challenged and complained about over the past 30
"
19 GRAND Summer 2023
Judy Blume with her husband,
George Cooper. Photo courtesy Judy Blume
years, according to the American Library Association.
Blume noted that a bill being considered by the
Florida House would ban discussion of menstrual
cycles in elementary schools, legislation that reminds
her of a local principal in New Jersey who objected to
" Are You There God? " when it was first published. He
said, " I can't have girls in our school reading
about this.' And I'm like, 'Do you know how
many girls in the fifth and sixth grade have
already had their periods?' " Blume says. " Now,
look what's going on in Florida. You have girls
being told not to talk about menstruation.
What are you going to do? Of course they're
going to talk about it. "
" Blume has not written a full-length book
since " In the Unlikely Event, " published in 2015.
But she is never far from her 12-year-old self,
the self of " Are You There God? " and other
Continued on next page
books, the age when she was " on the brink, " as she
calls it, looking ahead to a life that has been her happiest
and most surprising creation.
" When I look into a kid's eyes, when one of them
comes into the bookstore, I can feel a connection, "
she says.
Blume's advice on aging
And, for us grands, Blume shares her gleaned
wisdom about aging: 'Keep moving. Keep dancing!
Keep doing whatever you can do. " Spoken with
authority, Judy's message speaks the truth and is
worth taking to heart.
With a cast of award-winning actors and staying
true to her 1970 blockbuster novel Are You There God?
It's Me, Margaret, and her life-story documentary Judy
Blume Forever are both streaming on Amazon Prime.
Blume has won nearly 100 literary awards, including
the American Library Association's Margaret A.
Edwards Award and Distinguished Contribution to
American Letters of the National Book Foundation.

https://www.facebook.com/GRANDmagazine https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/celebrities/info-2022/judy-blume.html https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2018/pancreatic-cancer-symptoms.html https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2018/pancreatic-cancer-symptoms.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkceu-De8aQ https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/judy-blume-top-world-key-west-bookstore-98753473

GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023