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I remember having big time crushes on two television stars when I was a little girl before I started kindergarten: Grover from Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers. Mom says I had an unusual fascination with Richard Nixon, too, but I don't remember it.:)
Anyway, I never outgrew my fondness for either Grover or Mr. Rogers. As I grew older and got to know more about Fred Rogers outside of his television show persona, I grew to love him even more. He was a kind, gentle man from a kind, gentle place when the world and the people in it were ugly and mean. He treated all people, regardless of age, with dignity and respect. He was wise and shared his wisdom in a way that was easy to understand.
A few years ago when his last show aired, cnn did a special bit on Mr. Rogers. At the end he sang his two signature songs--the "neighbor" one and the one he sang at the end of the show, which I know the words to but can only remember them when I hear it. I cried. When I found out he died this morning, I cried again. I'm glad he passed soon after his stomach cancer diagnosis--he was spared a long term period of suffering. But my heart is very heavy, mourning the loss of a childhood love and my favorite t.v. neighbor. I never met him, but always thought of him as being one of my dear friends. Good bye and God speed, Fred Rogers. I'll never forget you. You will be missed. Blessed be.
Anyway, I never outgrew my fondness for either Grover or Mr. Rogers. As I grew older and got to know more about Fred Rogers outside of his television show persona, I grew to love him even more. He was a kind, gentle man from a kind, gentle place when the world and the people in it were ugly and mean. He treated all people, regardless of age, with dignity and respect. He was wise and shared his wisdom in a way that was easy to understand.
A few years ago when his last show aired, cnn did a special bit on Mr. Rogers. At the end he sang his two signature songs--the "neighbor" one and the one he sang at the end of the show, which I know the words to but can only remember them when I hear it. I cried. When I found out he died this morning, I cried again. I'm glad he passed soon after his stomach cancer diagnosis--he was spared a long term period of suffering. But my heart is very heavy, mourning the loss of a childhood love and my favorite t.v. neighbor. I never met him, but always thought of him as being one of my dear friends. Good bye and God speed, Fred Rogers. I'll never forget you. You will be missed. Blessed be.