"Most people who know me are well aware of my fondness for the public television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. As a child, it was one of my favorite shows. Who am I kidding? It still is. Of course, back in the day, I liked Sesame Street as well, but it didn’t hold a candle to Mister Rogers.
Mister Rogers would take you on a journey that you wouldn’t usually get to experience. He would take you along to see how a saxophone or crayons were made, or even to visit the penguins at Sea World (long before there was ever a Sea World here in Texas). These field trips were all done through the wonderful 'Picture Picture.'
Most of the time, you knew Picture Picture was about to be used when the ever-so-quick Mr. McFeely would stop by for a 'Speedy Delivery' to drop off the daily mail. He usually delivered rolls of film (which eventually evolved into VHS tapes) that Mr. Rogers would slide into Picture Picture, and the footage would instantly start playing. I found out years later that a stagehand—often a young Michael Keaton working behind the scenes—was the one actually taking the film and starting the video. But to me as a kid, it was just an amazing, magical television screen.
The adventures didn't stop there. Trolley would also take you to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe with a familiar Ding! Ding! There, you would meet characters like X the Owl, Daniel Striped Tiger, King Friday (and his royal greetings), the lovely Lady Aberlin, and the rest of the cast. They played out scenarios that most kids go through at some point, helping us figure out how to cope with life’s everyday problems. Most of all, Mister Rogers, Lady Aberlin, Handyman Negri, Bob Dog, and everyone involved in the show tried to instill one core belief in their viewers: Just be yourself. We are all different, and those differences are exactly what make every single one of us special.
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood will always have a special place in my heart, and it eventually found a special place in my children’s hearts, too. It held a slightly larger place for my daughter than my son, mostly because the show was sadly canceled when my son was still very young, so he didn't get quite as invested. However, they were both incredibly excited when Mister Rogers sent them personalized, signed photos—keepsakes they still hold onto today now that they are in their early 20s.
Life is such a roller coaster. It’s funny how unexpected moments can tie right back to your past. My wife and I have this awesome little guy, Joseph, in our lives now. When he was just a few months old, we were searching for something to watch on television—looking for something non-violent with a positive, educational message for a growing mind.
Lo and behold, we found an animated program called Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Because of the title, my instant thought was that they were ripping off the original show. I usually don't care for remakes or reboots, but after giving it an open-minded watch, I realized how wrong I was. They managed to create a truly beautiful homage to a great show.
As we watched, Joseph took an instant liking to it—and surprisingly, so did I. There are a couple of things I don’t particularly care for, like how the Daniel Tiger character can be a bit whiny at times, or the lack of other human characters from the original neighborhood. Only Mr. McFeely transferred over to the animated world. While I understand they can't bring everyone back, a surprise visit from Lady Aberlin or Officer François Clemmons here and there would be incredibly cool to see.
Recently, I decided to write to David Newell (Mr. McFeely) and sent along a couple of items for him to autograph. About a month later, I came home to find a package on my doorstep. The box was torn up beyond belief, but the addresses were still legible and the contents were perfectly safe. As soon as I read the return address, I knew exactly who it was from. I wondered what it could be, since I had only sent him a couple of small 4x6 items. I took it inside and carefully opened it up. WOW.
Inside were three books: two written by Fred Rogers that pertained perfectly to our current family situation, and a children's book about Mr. McFeely that I can read to Joseph. Also enclosed was a warm, four-page letter apologizing for the delay and answering some questions I had asked, alongside a signed 6x8 photo dedicated to me. He even mentioned that if I sent him my kids' names, he would send them autographed photos, too. I sent them over, and a week later, they received their own signed pictures in the mail. I didn't get my original items back, but given his massive, unexpected generosity, I am totally okay with that. My mind was completely blown.
I am in my fifties now, and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood is still putting a smile on my face—and on the faces of my children. My older kids loved their new photos. Joseph didn't quite know what his was yet (lol), but it leaves you with such a good feeling. A very good feeling."
Riley
