Mister Rogers
Early one morning I saw the news that Mister Rogers was going to get his star on Hollywood Boulevard. When the kids were asked if they wanted to go, only Noah was willing to skip school. After we dropped the others off, Noah, Lily, and I went for breakfast, drove around a little bit, and then we went to Hollywood Boulevard. The viewing area was filling up a bit, so I sat us down right behind the crowd control barriers. Then the area really started filling up, a local school came with lots of kids, but we had center front row seats on the sidewalk.
When the ceremony started, there were a few speeches here and there, from him and her, and then Mister Rogers came out. Everyone got excited. When he sang You Are My Friend, all the kids sang along with him, but the parents, the adults, all got misty.
After the actual unveiling of the star and pictures were taken, Mister Rogers came to the crowd and started saying hello. An eastern European woman told me to pick up my kids so they can see. I said I thought they could see just fine. When Mister Rogers came in front of us, this woman picked up Lily and thrust her into Mister Rogers arms.
The pictures, the flashes of the cameras, more excitement! Mister Rogers and Lily were both startled, protectively he took her behind the little stage. After a minute they came out again, Lily pointed at me, they came over, and the paparazzi, photo flashes, more pictures with him and four year old Lily.
Mister Rogers said, "You are very lucky, she is very aware."
I think I said, "I'm aware of that."
He gave a little chuckle and gave her back to me.
Then Mister Rogers said goodbye to the crowd. Reporters rushed over with many questions for Lily and Noah. They answered in single syllables.
After the crowd broke up, I asked around if there was a Mister Rogers publicist available. A guy came over and I explained how the woman had thrust Lily into his arms, and wondered if there was a press kit or something my kids could have as a souvenir. When he said he had some, we talked a bit, and suddenly, the fanboy in me came out and said, Oh my God, you’re Mr. McFeely! He seemed so pleased to be recognized.
He got us a couple of press kits.
That evening, on the news, we got to see Lily and Noah being monosyllabic.
A few years later, well after Mister Rogers died, PBS did a very loving tribute to him. And when they came to the point where they needed a picture of Mister Rogers and a child, there was Lily!
Jon and Kay were watching it on TV, and called me. But Sarah and I were at Disneyland. We wanted to see it. It was the first time I operated the DVR using my phone.
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood