When I grow up, I want to be Jessica Fletcher

To mark the anniversary of Murder She Wrote‘s first episode in 1984, here’s a little ode to the one-and-only crime-solving style icon, Jessica Fletcher.

One word can describe Jessica Fletcher: BADASS.

Seriously, the woman is unlike any other. I was first introduced to her awesomeness in sixth grade when I watched a few episodes of Murder, She Wrote with my Grammy. I was scared — there was a shadow of a man with a gun and oh my god WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN?!

“Don’t worry,” my Grammy soothed, “Jessica’s got it.”

And she did; episode after episode Jessica walked into nerve-wracking situations and handled them like a boss. We couldn’t help but be in awe of this (fictional) woman from Cabot’s Cove, Maine, who didn’t give a hoot about her age, sex, or modest upbringing – she knew when she was right and she went for it.

Here are a few more reasons why I want to be just like her when I grow up:

She’s an independent woman.

Jessica’s husband has since passed in the pilot episode of Murder, She Wrote, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to stay cooped up in her house. She jogs, fishes, travels, writes, and most importantly, solves crimes faster than the sheriff, himself.

She just happens to write a best-selling mystery novel, for kicks.

In the first episode, we learn that Jessica’s nephew read her mystery manuscript and sent it along to a publisher in New York and then – BAM – phone calls, interviews, and TV appearances galore. Everyone wants to know the best-selling author from Cabot Cove – who will also debunk claims of an unsolvable case by solving it herself.

She’s not afraid of the dark.

Or of sneaking around creepy houses. Or walking down empty alleyways. Or convincing culprits to put. the. gun. down. It’s actually quite amazing how calmly she can convince a stone-cold killer that he should, in fact, turn himself in. She is the definition of fearless.

She will get up in your business. 

Don’t be fooled by her sweet smile and friendly approach – when this woman needs information for a case, she does not care about being nosey. And do you think she cares about that tiny technicality that she is not employed by the police force? Not a bit.

And look good doing it.

Jessica flaunts some serious fashion while kicking butt and taking names. There are Tumblr pages and blogs devoted to her chic New England style.

She politely curtails any kind of elderly treatment.

Anytime anyone tries to treat her more gently or with extra care, she just brushes them off and forges ahead. She doesn’t have time for this – SOMEONE WAS MURDERED.

She’s basically the glue keeping Cabot Cove together.

The sheriff, officers, and authorities can roll their eyes all they want, but there is an audible sigh of relief when Jessica shows up on the scene. Nothing gets by her private eye.

Watch the entire series with your Grammy on Netflix.

[Featured image , gif via]