Mister Rogers

From The World According to Mister Rogers:

Imagining something may be the first step in making it happen, but it taks real time and real efforst of real people to learn things, make things, turn thoughts into deeds or visions into inventions.

When I was very young, between 4 and 5 years old, my Mother brought all of the Walsh kids to a show by Mister Rogers -- live in person.  I do not have a memory of this, but my Mother tells the story with such vivid details, such love in her, such admiration for Mister Rogers, I have taken on the story as if I was capable of remembering something from that long ago.  As Mister Rogers started speaking on stage, we, the children, were scattered in the aisles and in front of the stage.  I was definitely not comfortable and not happy about having to sit still.  Mister Rogers came across the stage to speak with me directly, looking into my eyes, agreeing with me that sometimes it is difficult to sit still, calming my anexities.  A smile returned to my face as I soon fell into the Mister Roger's spell and happily listened through the remainder of the afternoon.

I received this book for Christmas this year; it is amazing how much Mister Roger's can still have an effect on my life almost 30 years later.  For those of us who grew up with Mister Rogers, I urge you to grab a copy of the book and read the passages contained within -- touching, powerful, and insightful.  What an incredibly wise, loving, caring and passionate man.