Mr. Rogers

[Lilac]

Melody, your words were a very fitting and touching tribute to this gentle yet surprisingly influential man. Not many shows have lasted for 30+ years, especially shows featuring a soft-spoken man that never changes except when he's changing into cardigan sweaters and canvas shoes.

As for myself, I will always remember the little songs he sang on his show; songs that he himself wrote.  They were simple songs with simple tunes, yet they had beautiful and important messages for his impressionable young viewers... 

It's You I Like http://pbskids.org/rogers/songlist/song5.html 

(you need Real Player to listen to the songs)

"It's you I like, 
It's not the things you wear, 
It's not the way you do your hair--
But it's you I like 
The way you are right now, 
The way down deep inside you-- 
Not the things that hide you, 
Not your toys-- 
They're just beside you..." 

I'm Proud of You http://pbskids.org/rogers/songlist/song12.html 

"I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you.
I hope that you're as proud as
I am proud of you.
I'm proud of you.
I hope that you are proud

And that you're
Learning how important you are,
How important each person you see can be.
Discovering each one's specialty
Is the most important learning..."

Everybody's Fancy http://pbskids.org/rogers/songlist/song4.html

"Some are fancy on the outside. 
Some are fancy on the inside. 
Everybody's fancy. 
Everybody's fine. 
Your body's fancy and so is mine..."

One of my favorite songs is not on the website, but it starts like :"It's the style to wear a smile / do you know how to put one on your face..."  It has a wonderful, happy tune that makes you smile by just listening to it.  

I loved how the off-stage piano player improvised little tunes as Mr. Rogers was walking around his house.   I also loved the little sound-effects the piano made to go along with whatever Mr. Rogers was doing -- a little trill for each shake of the fish food or a flourish when he was tossing his shoe to his other hand, for instance.  

But the most fascinating part to me was how this piano player knew exactly when Mr. Rogers was going to start singing one of the aforementioned songs.  The piano would transition smoothly from the jazzy improvisations to the actual tune and then -- almost like magic -- singing and accompaniment would start at *exactly* the same moment, seemingly out of nowhere.  My childhood imagination thought that Mr. Rogers and the piano player could read each other's mind!  That was pure magic to me.

Mr. McFeeley, I have a Speedy Delivery for you...would you please take this thank-you note to Mr. Rogers?  It says, "Thank-you for being a part of my life as well as my children's lives.  The world is a better place because you shared yourself with all of us.  May you rest in peace".

Thanks, Mr. McFeeley.   And thank-you, Mr. Rogers.

~Lilac, who just had to share that, and is worried that "other's" should have been "others' " and "children's" should have been "childrens' ", and really isn't sure which one is correct, and wonders if that means she is kinda dumb, and now is worried about this run-on sentence, and is shutting up now. 

P.S.  This website has some advice for Parents and Teachers in helping children understand and cope with this sad event:

http://pbskids.org/rogers/parents/feb27.html



 

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"Professor, can you show me that blocking thing again?"

Lockhart cuffed Harry merrily on the shoulder.  "Just do what I did, Harry!"

"What, drop my wand?"

 --Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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