When the Golden Girls first debuted in 1985, I was only 16 years old. Still, even though I was so young, I was able to appreciate the humor that the girls offered every week. Being 16 at the time, it was inconceivable to me that women like the Golden Girls could actually have a life after 50. After all, at 16, 50 was older than old!

Blanche Devereaux lived a life that would have guaranteed any real life psychiatrist’s retirement. She found company with a different man in most episodes, very rarely let it go by without reminding the girls of her youth and never-fading beauty – oh and don’t forget her perfectly perky bosom she was so proud of – seemingly completely oblivious to anything that hinted at her getting older. She was proud of her southern gentility and, without question, could have given Scarlet O’Hara a few tips on how to be a true Southern Belle.

While a real life psychiatrist would say that Blanche took comfort with so many men, it must be because she was looking for the love her father never gave her. Her narcissism could only be explained as that she had been ridiculed as a child and had an extremely low sense of self-worth, self-respect, self-esteem and self-confidence.

However, Blanche Devereaux didn’t have any of these problems at all! The purpose of the Blanche Devereaux character was to empower real life middle-aged women to understand that well yeah ok maybe you don’t have that 18-inch waist anymore and maybe your face has a few more wrinkles – that doesn’t mean that you can’t still be a vibrant, energetic, sensual, exciting, loving and beautiful woman. Being over 50 doesn’t mean you should start to plan your funeral. It should mean that you are in the prime of your life.

In real life, Rue McClanahan had a busy career in show business, beginning with Broadway in the 1950’s and then on television with small roles on shows like All in the Family in the 1970’s. The mother of Mark Bish, Rue had been married six times, most recently to Morrow Wilson since 1997.

Diagnosed in 1997 with cancer, Rue underwent a successful lumpectomy and five months of chemotherapy. In 2009 Rue underwent triple bypass surgery, shortly after which she suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed on her right side and with difficulty speaking. After months of rehabilitation in a nursing facility, Rue suffered another stroke.

Surrounded by her family, Rue passed away at 1 a.m. on June 3, 2010. Rue is survived by her son, Mark Bish, and husband Morrow Wilson.

Now that I’m officially in my 40’s, I can appreciate so much more of what the Golden Girls was about. I still watch the show, now on the Hallmark and We channels, most nights – usually before I turn everything down for the night. For a show that’s been on the air and in syndication for 25 years, it’s one of the few that I thoroughly enjoy, and at times, now that I’m older, I can see myself in some of the characters.

Rest in peace, Rue McClanahan. And thank you for being a friend.