Noticing xlviii - Mr. Rogers

Today we went to see the film It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, sort of about Mr. Rogers, but more about the Esquire writer who was befriended—and helped—by Mr. Rogers. It was good.

I was a generation too early to enjoy or be influenced by Mr. Rogers myself. And I have no kids, who might have enjoyed or been influenced by his PBS television show, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, which aired from 1971 to 2001. Though of course I've known of him for probably most of that time.

I enjoyed the 2018 documentary, Won't You Be My Neighbor?

But this new feature film, with Tom Hanks channeling Mr. Rogers, was intriguing, since it was about adults. My friend Sherilyn is, I think, spot-on with her comments about the movie: "Overall, it is a commentary about where we are as a society now. That people are afraid of the silent moments in life. They're not left to 'just be.' That there isn't a lot of compassionate listening, and even when we find someone to listen, we don't know how to signal that. AND - the personal responsibility of the management of our feelings, how we handle them, what we do with them. . . . OH - and the power of focus. Wow, they illustrated this at the right level, just a few touches, a few beats in the film, and it is evident how disciplined and focused he was. He effing knew and lived his priorities."

Yes indeed, he seems to have been an entirely admirable man.

Here is a recent story about the actual writer of the Esquire piece, Tom Junod (in the film he's called Lloyd Vogel). And here is his story, titled "Can You Say . . . Hero?"

I am saving them here to read later.

And interestingly, op-eds and stories keep getting written about Mr. Rogers, these all in the Washington Post from November 2019 alone: here and here and here and here. Sure, they coincide with the release of the new movie, but still: it's remarkable how much affection and respect he still garners.

BE KIND: to others, but perhaps especially to yourself.