Posted by KidRooter at cache-dm11.proxy.aol.com on February 27, 2003 at 11:06:45:
In Reply to: Fred Rogers posted by Ricky Stanton on February 27, 2003 at 07:28:32:
: Mr. Fred Rogers died last night at the age of 74 from stomach cancer. I think we should all wear sneakers and sweater in memorial.
: -Ricky "be my neighbor" Stanton
My parents divorced when I was very young. I grew up part of the key on the shoe string around the neck generation. I spent a lot of time with an elderly woman across the street from my house. She was like the grandmother that I never met for mine had died before I was born. My dad paid her a little money to watch out for me while he worked. When I was old enough I went to kindergarten in the mornings I would return to the elderly woman ,Ms. Matty's, house. For my lunch or afternoon snack she would often make me French Toast but rather than cinnamon and powdered sugar and syrup, she would put ketchup on it. In retrospect I am sure that is all she could afford to feed me. I would set and watch Mr. Rogers and eat french toast and ketchup on Ms. Matty's ugly green matted shag carpet. We moved from Ms. Matty's neighborhood when I was 8 years old. I spent everyday sans weekends with that lady. I heard Ms. Patty passed away about three years ago.
I hadn't really thought of that in years until I woke up this morning and heard that my childhood friend, Mr. Rogers had passed away. I had no idea what kind of influence the man had on my life. Still, when I come home from work put of a comfortable shirt/sweatshirt and house shoes. Kinda symbolic, for me, of shucking the yuck of work and traffic and all the day to day and putting on some comfort. And I still prefer the land of make believe to the real one.
May Mr. Rogers live on forever in our hearts and re-runs, without him where will children learn to be good people?
I will be having French Toast and Ketchup for lunch today.
Kid Rooter