February 27, 2003

RIP, Mr. R

Daniel Tiger is crying and won't be comforted. X the Owl is very solemn, as he
tries to reassure Henrietta Pussycat. Lady Elaine is swearing, but only in the
depths of the museum where no innocent ears can hear her. King Friday has
proclaimed national mourning in the Kingdom of Makebelieve.

Another member of my href="http://dichroic.diaryland.com/kingsaints.html">personal pantheon is
gone, and our world has lost something we can't spare either: one of the few who
spent his whole life trying to make it better.

I confess that as a kid, I liked the faster moving Sesame Street and The Electric
Company better, and watched Mr. Rogers
mostly because he was on between them. It wasn't until much later I saw how
extraordinary he was, and how much I'd learned from him, how much I really had
internalized his words. Mr. Rogers thought I was special. Mr. Rogers thought every
kid was special. I'm not even sure why, and I feel silly about this, but I keep
bursting into tears. I knew he was getting old but I didn't know he'd been
diagnosed with stomach cancer. I wish he'd died in a way as gentle and calm as his
own show.

Please Don't Think It's Funny

(c) 1968 Fred M. Rogers


Sometimes you feel like holding your pillow all night long.

Sometimes you hug your teddybear tightly,

He's old but he's still strong.

And sometimes you want to snuggle up closely with your

own mom and dad.

At night, you even need the light sometimes,

But that's not bad.


Please don't think it's funny

When you want an extra kiss.

There are lots and lots of people

Who sometimes feel like this.

Please don't think it's funny

When you want the ones you miss.

There are lots and lots of people

Who sometimes feel like this.

Posted by dichroic at February 27, 2003 07:50 AM
Comments
Post a comment









Remember personal info?