Friday, February 28, 2003

I've tried several times over the last twenty-four hours, without success, to sum up neatly my feelings over the death of Fred Rogers. I am amazed that this passing has hit me as hard as it has. Clearly, that shows the power of the man and his message.

I have posted some thoughts to a couple of different places online, including over at MetaFilter, where a wonderful sharing of sorrow and memories took place yesterday. Those thoughts, though not as polished as I would like them to be, will have to serve:

I turned on the TV this morning to check road conditions and saw Fred Rogers in an interview he did with Katie Couric not long ago. Just seeing his face made me smile. Then I heard the words "survived by," and my heart sank.

...

I feel like a kid again. The loss of Mr. Rogers feels like the loss of a personal friend, and my sadness strips me of my adult veneer of control and safety.

And yet, even as these feelings overtake me, in the back of my mind I hear a familiar, calm, gentle voice reassuring me, telling me that it's okay to be sad and that everything will be alright.

Goodbye, Mr. Rogers, and thank you.

Posted @ 11:10 AM

---

---