Thursday,
February 27, 2003
He'll always be my neighbor
Growing up in Chicago, there were a couple of staples in my life. Every afternoon after school, we'd watch the Three Stooges (mainly because it was my brother's favorite show), and then we'd turn on Channel 11 and watch Sesame Street, The Electric Company and Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.
Now, I admit there was a period when I thought the show was stupid and babyish. I was a pre-teen -- what did I know? But before that time I loved it, and I loved all the cool things Mr. Rogers would show us. I don't remember the episode where they showed how crayons were made, but I do remember the episode in the bakery, and the one where Mr. Rogers went swimming with a friend. I also remember wanting to have a castle like King Friday XIII, and go inside Lady Elaine Fairchild's Museum-Go-Round, and pet Daniel Tiger (Henrietta Pussycat scared me a little -- she seemed so formal).
I liked Picture Picture, and the sandbox table in the back, and Mr. McFeeley, and the jazz piano, and the cardigans and sneakers. I'm even willing to admit that, after seeing reruns of the very first shows as an adult, Fred Rogers was kinda babelicious when I was a kid.
Right now, though,
I'm sitting here with a blurry screen because I just don't want him to be gone.
Goodbye,
Mr. Rogers, and thank you for letting us be your neighbors.