Natasha Shapiro-Shimanovs

March 15, 2001

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I’ve written to you a few times before and I feel like I am the luckiest person in the whole world because my favorite author (and greatest inspiration) had replied, and I forwarded the letters to several of my friends! (all of whom are sincere and adoring fans)(now that I have forced them to read Alan Mendelsohn)(I bribed them with homemade pie.)

It’s been 17 years since I first laid my hands on a Daniel Pinkwater novel and I haven’t been the same since (thank goodness! I can only imagine what I would have turned out like!) (probably normal…..Ewwwwwwwwww!)

Okay, so I’m 28 years old now.

Did I get what I wanted out of life?

Did I achieve all that I set out to do (by this age)?

Yes. All but one thing….

I never thanked you for the inspiration!

My children will read your novels before they read any Dr. Seuss.

That’s how much I appreciate your silliness!

In fact, if Fonzie met you, he’d give up all his women for you! That’s how cool you are!

Sincerely, sappily, and gratefully yours,

Natasha Shapiro-Shimanovsky (by the way, I took your advice and hyphenated my name when I got married.)

p.s. – I noticed that Matt Groening is a huge fan (shows just how intellingent he is!) And that Marge Simpson’s sister Selma’s second husband’s last name is Terwilliger. Any relation to Flipping Hades?

Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday Natasha Shapiro-Shimanovsky!
Happy birthday to you!