Dear Rugrats,

I don't believe you know how much power you had over me as a child. I have probably seen every episode in existence. The days of making waffle blocks into roller skates and skating around the family room as the theme song came on because I was so excited. You were my favorite. Absolutely. There is nothing better than entertainment that in the most part went straight over my head. From the fractured language that Tommy, Phil, Lil, and Chuckie spoke in to the occasional innuendo. You, my friends, were the tops.

Maybe one of the things that I subconsciously loved so much and accepted in my tender youth was the fierce political correctness. You guys celebrated every holiday. Without fail. My condolences. I can barely make it through Christmas without screaming, "Screw this! Jesus was born in April anyways!"

I can still remember the most impactful episodes, although I must admit they come in fragments. The one where Chuckie stopped being afraid of the potty and learned to use it in a Costcoesque super store. I'll tell you what, Chuckie, I too had an irrational fear of toilets. Those things are scary, man. But you helped me to see that it's okay. Potties aren't really that scary anyways. Chuckie, you always were the cautious one, yet you faced your fears with good friends by your side. You are my hero.

Tommy, my surprise to find you were voiced by a woman was unfathomable to my child brain, as well as most of the other characters. I think perhaps I was more surprised to find that Phil and Lil were voiced by the same person. Oh, how magical the 90s were in making it possible for one person to fight with themselves through two different cartoon characters.

Angelica. I don't know what to say. You have received your comeuppance on many an occasion. And each time I felt satisfied, but still a bit sad. Because being a girl I identified with you. Not that I plotted to get my younger cousins in trouble, but your fierce love for Cynthia. You would do anything for her. She was always there for you even when you didn't like any of your other friends. Cynthia understood. Your love for her always gave me hope.

Being quite a bit younger than all of my older siblings I'm sure they remember much more of the show that I do, but oh how I loved it with all of my little heart. And oh how I probably drove them crazy. When Tommy went back to make sure Chuckie was okay after he decided he was brave enough to play what the big kids were playing and scraped his knee I could feel the friendship solidifying for life.

Rugrats epitomizes everything a friend should be. Without each other you would never be able to make it out of the play pen on your own. Without each one of your diapers stashed with all sorts of helpful tools and even sometimes goodies you couldn't have done it all without each other. Oh how I wish I had a bond like that. Even through new characters like Kimi, Dil, and Susie. The acceptance and bond of the group never faltered for more than a half in hour by the end of which all would be well again.

All Grown Up, though. To be honest I was excited at first because as a child I wanted so desperately to be a teenager. Even though now that I'm a teenager I act like a child. But I was psyched for All Grown Up. Once I myself became all grown up, though, I began to see the flaws and learned to be disappointed in the show. So now instead of being bitter I have decided that it never happened. Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil, Angelica, and even Dil, Kimi, and Susie, you will always be rugrats with screwdrivers in your diapers and adventure in your hearts to me.

Sincerely,

Kaylyn