This Mr. Rogers story might make you cry
This Mr. Rogers story might make you cry, In the wake of the horrific attacks in Manchester, England, many people shared a famous quote by everyone's favorite neighbor. His mother always said, when there was a catastrophe, "always look for the helpers." No matter how bad things are, there are always people helping.
This Mr. Rogers story might make you cry, In the wake of the horrific attacks in Manchester, England, many people shared a famous quote by everyone's favorite neighbor. His mother always said, when there was a catastrophe, "always look for the helpers." No matter how bad things are, there are always people helping.
That led to an incredible story from Anthony Breznican, a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly, about a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Fred Rogers that will restore your faith in humanity.
Warning: You will cry. But it will be worth it.
50 years ... I have a story to tell about this man. twitter.com/drpnygard/stat…
The initial tweet Breznican quotes isn't quite true -- the "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" most of us know didn't debut in May of 1967, it debuted in February 1968. But that doesn't really matter. Just read:
Breznican, like Rogers, is from Pittsburgh. And like most of us, he grew up watching Mr. Rogers. And then he outgrew it. Until he needed that kindness again, when he was in college.
Fred Rogers was the real thing. That gentle soul? It was no act. 3/
I was having a hard time. The future seemed dark. I was struggling, lonely, dealing with a lot of broken pieces and not adjusting well. 5/
I went to Pitt and devoted everything I had to the school paper, hoping that would propel me into some kind of worthwhile future. 6/
It was easy to feel hopeless. One span was especially bad. Walking out of the dorm, I heard familiar music:Won't you be my neighbor... 7/
The TV was playing in an empty common room. Mr. Rogers as there, asking me what I do with the mad I feel. (I had lots to spare. still do) 8/
Then, days later, something amazing: Breznican went to step onto an elevator. The doors opened. And there was Mr. Rogers. Breznican kept it together at first, the two just nodding at each other. But when Mr. Rogers went to walk away, he couldn't miss the opportunity to say something.
Days later, I get in the elevator at the paper to ride down to the lobby. The doors open. Mr. Rogers is standing there. For real. 10/
I can't believe it. I get in and he nods at me. I do back. I think he could sense a geek-out coming. But I kept it together. 11/
Almost. 12/
The doors open, he lets me go out first. I go, but turn around. "Mr. Rogers... I don't mean to bother you. But I wanted to say thanks." 13/
He smiles, but this has to happen to him every 10 feet. "Did you grow up as one of my neighbors?" I felt like crying. Yeah. I was. 14/
This is about the time we started crying. But this story is about to get even better.
The two chat for a few minutes, then Mr. Rogers starts to leave. Breznican said that recently, when he'd really needed it, he'd rediscovered the magic of the world Rogers created.
As he went out the door, I said (in a kind of rambling gush) that I'd stumbled on the show again recently, when I really needed it. 17/
So I just said, "Thanks for that." Mr. Rogers nodded. He paused. He undid his scarf. He motioned to the window, & sat down on the ledge. 18/
This is what set Mr. Rogers apart. No one else would've done this. He goes, "Do you want to tell me what was upsetting you?" 19/
So I sat. I told him my grandfather had just died. He was one of the few good things I had. I felt adrift. Brokenhearted. 20/
I like to think I didn't go on and on, but pretty soon he was telling me about his grandfather & a boat the old man bought him as a kid. 21/
Mr. Rogers asked how long ago Pap had died. It was a couple months. His grandfather was obviously gone decades. 22/
That boat, Rogers told Breznican, had been a gift from his grandfather for something -- maybe good grades, graduation. "Something important." Rogers didn't have the boat anymore, but he still had the work ethic his grandfather taught him.
The grandfather gave Mr. Rogers the row boat as reward for something. I forget what. Grades, or graduation. Something important. 24/
He didn't have either now, but he had that work ethic, that knowledge that the old man encouraged with his gift. 25/
"Those things never go away," Mr. Rogers said. I'm sure my eyes looked like stewed tomatoes. 26/
Finally, I said thank you. And apologized if I made him late for an appointment. "Sometimes you're right where you need to be," he said. 27/
Mr. Rogers died in 2003. When he heard the news, Breznican sat at his computer and cried. Not over the loss of a celebrity, but over the loss of a neighbor.
Thank you for being a helper, Mr. Rogers. We hope that, somewhere, you're in a boat with your grandpa again.
Allison Carter is Facebook editor at IndyStar and is a mess right now. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonLCarter.
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