My Lonely City

In response to my overwhelming bitchiness from yesterday, I feel like focusing on something nicer. Did you know that Mr. Rogers was a vegetarian? And a Christian? And an awesome guy? I didn’t know. I used to think he was awesome, when I was little, then I thought he was very uncool, and possibly perverted. And now … now I want to be like him. In reading this article, I’ve found my new role model.

He Was Genuinely Curious about Others Mister Rogers was known as one of the toughest interviews because he’d often befriend reporters, asking them tons of questions, taking pictures of them, compiling an album for them at the end of their time together, and calling them after to check in on them and hear about their families. He wasn’t concerned with himself, and genuinely loved hearing the life stories of others. Amazingly, it wasn’t just with reporters. Once, on a fancy trip up to a PBS exec’s house, he heard the limo driver was going to wait outside for 2 hours, so he insisted the driver come in and join them (which flustered the host). On the way back, Rogers sat up front, and when he learned that they were passing the driver’s home on the way, he asked if they could stop in to meet his family. According to the driver, it was one of the best nights of his life—the house supposedly lit up when Rogers arrived, and he played jazz piano and bantered with them late into the night. Further, like with the reporters, Rogers sent him notes and kept in touch with the driver for the rest of his life.

This makes me feel like there’s hope for humanity after all. :o) Maybe not much hope – let’s not get carried away – but a bit. Check out the video of him testifying to a Senate committee about television funding. Cool stuff.