I Miss Mr. Rogers

[daikitsune]

cargoweasel posted a video about Fred Rogers of "Mister Rogers Neighborhood" the other day. Just that post brought back a flood of memories and amazement at the kind of gentle power he had, the wonderful things he did for creating a calmer, safer world for children. I want to take a moment now to thank him, wherever he may be, and to thank all of you as well

Comments

[jharish]

Thanks for sharing those videos. The third one made me cry. I grew up with him and didn't fully appreciate him until adulthood.

I don't know how much you remember, but our first and only meeting was at an Anthrocon almost a decade ago, where we went to Pizza together and hung out having a long conversation that meandered across many topics.

I hope your life is going well.

[daikitsune]

I can't say I remember the exact meeting, but I'd probably know you if I saw your face. I'm not good with names, but faces and scents...

In any case, I'm glad the videos touched you like they touched me. Even though we couldn't fully appreciate what he was doing until we were adults, I think our exposure to such an individual helped shape us into good, caring people.

[jharish]

Hehe!

Here's my face! I must say that at the time you were in a "transitional" period in your life with school and other things weighing you down, it was the bulk of our conversation actually.

[stevefoxx]

I want you all to know that you are very special and wonderful people, and I like you just the way you are.
Mr. Rogers was the original Man.

[daikitsune]

He was the ultimate adult. Caring, honest, and non-judgemental.

[corelog]

"I like you just the way you are."

What powerful words. And in truth, I can remember only distant echoes of those pronouncements, because while the Neighborhood was approved television, our lack of cable TV prevented us from seeing any of it after the plug was pulled.

He was such a humble man. And his delivery--slow, calm, and paced--is so well calibrated to cut through the nose and blur of everyday life, to reach both a child and the adults they become.

[daikitsune]

I remember little more than the fact that I watched it, and that he always held my attention, despite me being a little ADD hyperactive spaz. He had a power and a passion, yet his words were gentle and well thought out. He was unafraid of difficult topics and never stopped caring.

[daikitsune]

I agree with this. To me, a holy man becomes what he is not by being proclaimed one by a church, but by his own words and deeds. It's incredibly difficult to think of someone more humble or caring than Mr. Rogers.

[daikitsune]

d'awwwww...*supersnugs*