I’ve just discovered that Rotten.com, of all sites, has an excellent article on Mister Rogers, one of my favorite people of all-time.

I watched his show constantly when I was young, and I suppose he became a friend of sorts despite the screen between us. The beauty of his show wasn’t in the writing, as it never had a real plot. It was just a very kind man donning a red sweater, feeding his fish, watching his trolley, and singing. And making a lot of kids like me happy.

My mom even has a memory of me as a little boy with white-blonde hair, strutting out in the driveway like I was the only person on earth, and singing “It’s a good feeling, to know you’re alive…”

Though I don’t often wax nostalgic, I enjoy it when I do. If these lyrics of his are any indication, Mister Rogers, as always, understood perfectly.

In the long, long trip of growing
There are stops along the way,
For thoughts of all the soft things
And a look at yesterday.
For a chance to fill our feelings
With comfort and with ease,
And then tell the new tomorrow
“You can come now when you please.”