Thank you, Mari. I LOVED this article, probably my favorite so far. You have inspired me to be a better neighbor. I vote yes for Mr. Roger’s Day!
For Roger and me, 2021 was rough year in the health dept. The most life changing aspects were my broken pelvis and Roger’s broken wrist, events occurring about 6 weeks apart. Neighbor and friend Nancy made dinner at least once a week for us for months on end. Covid prevented us from eating together at any point. Her masked husband would ring our bell and drop off the hot meal of the week. What a blessing!
I loved this article too and I totally vote for National Mr. Rogers Day!
Absolutely the story of your husband and his question for the REAL Mr. Rogers on the phone! (Ooh so jealous!!) Loved the story of your neighbors and how much they added to your life!
When I was a kid, Mr. Rogers meant a lot to me. I remember watching him as a 3-year-old and thinking he was talking literally to me, personally, through the TV! He was a kind, calm, person who loved kids. That was a real novelty for me at that age.
Sometimes when people know a bit about my childhood they ask me (basically, as politely as they can) how I avoided being really messed up. And I’ve always given the credit to Mr. Rogers, and the people I met (a little later) at Head Start. They made a big difference to me.
One of my few regrets in life is I always meant to write to Mr. Rogers and tell him what he meant to me — and I never did and then he died. But apparently a lot of people wrote such letters to him, so it makes me happy to know he knew what a difference he made to kids like me.
I am sorry you had a tough time growing up. I have read that Mr. Rogers truly saved a couple of generations of children; a friend who is a therapist told me that he specifically designed many of his shows with abused and neglected children in mind. Thanks for sharing this.
I adore mr. Rogers and I loved this post. We’ve lived in our home for nearly 15 years and we have such great neighbors. Though some of them have changed over time. Two houses down a woman and her elderly mother have been or neighbors the whole time. And when as a brand new mom I had to go to the hospital in an ambulance, she stayed with our two week old until grandparents could arrive.
Our neighbors to the left moved in nearly 5 years ago, from Queens. The youngest youngest daughter has now been besties with my middle son for almost the whole time—they were 4 when they met. Just today she’s home sick from school, so I checked in on her because mom and older siblings had work and school.
There is little more comforting than kind neighbors.
That must have been so frightening to have to go to the hospital with a newborn at home. Our neighbors truly are there for us when our extended families can't be. Many years ago, I was driving home very late at night from a concert I had sung in, when I was hit by an old man with dementia who ran a red light. I was unhurt but very shaken, and my car was totaled. I needed my husband to come get me, but our kids were too little to be left in the house alone. Even though it was midnight, my husband called our neighbors, and they came and sat in the house until we got home.
Yes! My parents had left a few days before. I had intense pain in my sternum and felt as though I couldn't breathe. They were worried about a clot since I'd just given birth but it turns out it was my gallbladder! I had it out a week later.
Aw man, you reminded me of two great neighbors. First, Francesca- she was such a good friend, though I imagine playing with baby me was a hassle. Second, my RA at Carleton- I forgot my important documents in my room and she took the time to mail them to me, LOL
I think Francesca genuinely loved playing with you! I used to watch you guys making your potions and mysterious substances in the backyard and was reminded of the older neighbor girls who I wrote about.
And please thank your RA for me! Thanks to her, maybe you can finally get your ID!
As always your words are thoughtful and inspiring. I help a neighbor, along with another friend, we read to them weekly (by FaceTime in my case since the pandemic hit). As with all the things you do for other people, you are rewarded too. I look forward to Thursday afternoon immensely, I enjoy our chats on subjects ranging from grandchildren (theirs), to star systems and science, to music.
On Mr Rogers: I did not meet his show until just recently particularly when Ember chose to sing his theme song. I had to educate myself to find out why he is such an inconic figure. Tom Hanks portrayal in the movie helped! This is a link to our recording: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/jMT8XoD4JuMfNz4a6
Thank you, Mari. I LOVED this article, probably my favorite so far. You have inspired me to be a better neighbor. I vote yes for Mr. Roger’s Day!
For Roger and me, 2021 was rough year in the health dept. The most life changing aspects were my broken pelvis and Roger’s broken wrist, events occurring about 6 weeks apart. Neighbor and friend Nancy made dinner at least once a week for us for months on end. Covid prevented us from eating together at any point. Her masked husband would ring our bell and drop off the hot meal of the week. What a blessing!
I am so sorry about your and Roger's health problems, Kathy. What a blessing good neighbors are!
I loved this article too and I totally vote for National Mr. Rogers Day!
Absolutely the story of your husband and his question for the REAL Mr. Rogers on the phone! (Ooh so jealous!!) Loved the story of your neighbors and how much they added to your life!
When I was a kid, Mr. Rogers meant a lot to me. I remember watching him as a 3-year-old and thinking he was talking literally to me, personally, through the TV! He was a kind, calm, person who loved kids. That was a real novelty for me at that age.
Sometimes when people know a bit about my childhood they ask me (basically, as politely as they can) how I avoided being really messed up. And I’ve always given the credit to Mr. Rogers, and the people I met (a little later) at Head Start. They made a big difference to me.
One of my few regrets in life is I always meant to write to Mr. Rogers and tell him what he meant to me — and I never did and then he died. But apparently a lot of people wrote such letters to him, so it makes me happy to know he knew what a difference he made to kids like me.
I am sorry you had a tough time growing up. I have read that Mr. Rogers truly saved a couple of generations of children; a friend who is a therapist told me that he specifically designed many of his shows with abused and neglected children in mind. Thanks for sharing this.
That’s so interesting, and I hadn’t heard that before. If he did design the shows with that in mind, he was right on the money. God bless him.
PS Lily was adorable. 💖
Wasn't she though? :-)
I adore mr. Rogers and I loved this post. We’ve lived in our home for nearly 15 years and we have such great neighbors. Though some of them have changed over time. Two houses down a woman and her elderly mother have been or neighbors the whole time. And when as a brand new mom I had to go to the hospital in an ambulance, she stayed with our two week old until grandparents could arrive.
Our neighbors to the left moved in nearly 5 years ago, from Queens. The youngest youngest daughter has now been besties with my middle son for almost the whole time—they were 4 when they met. Just today she’s home sick from school, so I checked in on her because mom and older siblings had work and school.
There is little more comforting than kind neighbors.
That must have been so frightening to have to go to the hospital with a newborn at home. Our neighbors truly are there for us when our extended families can't be. Many years ago, I was driving home very late at night from a concert I had sung in, when I was hit by an old man with dementia who ran a red light. I was unhurt but very shaken, and my car was totaled. I needed my husband to come get me, but our kids were too little to be left in the house alone. Even though it was midnight, my husband called our neighbors, and they came and sat in the house until we got home.
Yes! My parents had left a few days before. I had intense pain in my sternum and felt as though I couldn't breathe. They were worried about a clot since I'd just given birth but it turns out it was my gallbladder! I had it out a week later.
Whoa! You had a lot to deal with--worries about a life-threatening condition, surgery, and an infant too! I think moms are the real superheroes.
Aw man, you reminded me of two great neighbors. First, Francesca- she was such a good friend, though I imagine playing with baby me was a hassle. Second, my RA at Carleton- I forgot my important documents in my room and she took the time to mail them to me, LOL
I think Francesca genuinely loved playing with you! I used to watch you guys making your potions and mysterious substances in the backyard and was reminded of the older neighbor girls who I wrote about.
And please thank your RA for me! Thanks to her, maybe you can finally get your ID!
As always your words are thoughtful and inspiring. I help a neighbor, along with another friend, we read to them weekly (by FaceTime in my case since the pandemic hit). As with all the things you do for other people, you are rewarded too. I look forward to Thursday afternoon immensely, I enjoy our chats on subjects ranging from grandchildren (theirs), to star systems and science, to music.
On Mr Rogers: I did not meet his show until just recently particularly when Ember chose to sing his theme song. I had to educate myself to find out why he is such an inconic figure. Tom Hanks portrayal in the movie helped! This is a link to our recording: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/jMT8XoD4JuMfNz4a6
I hope you enjoy it.
That was lovely! I especially loved the close harmonies and the "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" mashup! I miss singing with you all so much!