Fred Rogers would have been 85 today. I missed his shows as a little kid, but when I was in college I worked behind the scenes at our school's public TV station, and every day before we produced our 5:30 news, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood played on the control room monitors, so I probably saw all his shows later than most kids did -- while working my way through college.
Anyway, now that I have a kid of my own (here he is throwing sand into Lake Washington . . . )
I can better appreciate the gentle and straightfroward way Mister Rogers talked to the kids who were watching him, and how he took them into this magical world where he encouraged them to use their imaginations but also to be themselves.
If you haven't seen this remix, it perfectly captures the spirit of the man. Enjoy:
