This Guy's Emotional Story About Mr. Rogers Proves He Was A 'Friendly Neighbor' IRL
By Mustafa GatollariUpdated March 26 2019, 12:02 p.m. ET
Mr. Rogers was and remains to be one of the few non-controversial television figures of all time. The message he shared on the first episode of his show was the same one he did on the last episode. Be kind to others, and be a good neighbor. They're concepts that have unfortunately fallen on deaf ears in recent years as empathy for your neighbors have taken a back seat. When he passed, a celebration of his half century old show was planned to commemorate the man and his life, and it's a tear-jerker.
The 50th anniversary of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood just passed and if you grew up watching PBS, then you're probably familiar with the show and just how much of an OG Rogers is.
Now, here's the thing about Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - the show, by all accounts on a surface level, shouldn't capture children's imaginations and it shouldn't be 'good.' I mean, there are no dinosaurs. There are no wise-cracking sidekicks or zaniness. There's no macho dudes wielding swords or pretty animated ponies prancing all about the place with a musical number every three minutes.
It's a show about a friendly dude who wears cardigans. Who wants to be your neighbor. On a surface level, it sounds kinda boring, especially in the later seasons when Mr. Rogers was getting up there in age.
But if you just watch the show for a couple of minutes, you're instantly sucked in. There was something about Mr. Rogers' quiet enthusiasm and absolute love for his work that came through in every one of his bits. The guy was dead-set on providing an educational learning experience for children all across America, that was provided free of charge, and he was wholly dedicated to his work. And as a kid, although I couldn't really explain why I liked Mr. Rogers, I know it's that same exact reason I was so in love with his show.
After the attacks in Manchester, there was a particularly inspiring quote from Mr. Rogers that was being shared to focus on the good deeds people were doing to help victims.
A lot of people are sharing this quote after the heartbreak in Manchester. It's also the 50th anniversary of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. 1/ pic.twitter.com/zDnTrTcJ8v
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017Which prompted writer Anthony Breznican to share his own amazing story about Mr. Rogers on Twitter in this touching thread.
50 years ... I have a story to tell about this man. https://t.co/4MtEIcrdZE
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017Fred Rogers was from Pittsburgh, my hometown, and my generation grew up loving this man, who taught us to be kind above all. 2/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017Fred Rogers was the real thing. That gentle soul? It was no act. 3/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017As I got older, I lost touch with the show, which kept running through 2001. But in college, one day, I rediscovered it... 4/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017I 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017I went to Pitt and devoted everything I had to the school paper, hoping that would propel me into some kind of worthwhile future. 6/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017It 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017The 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017It feels silly to say - it felt silly then - but I stood mesmerized. His show felt like a cool hand on a hot head. I left feeling better. 9/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017Days 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017I 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017Almost. 12/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017The 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017He 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017Opens his arms, lifting his satchel for a hug. "It's good to see you again neighbor." I got to hug Mr. Rogers, y'all! 15/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017I pull it together. We're walking out and I mention liking Johnny Costa (he was the piano player on the show.) We made more small talk. 16/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017As 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017So 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017This 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017So 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017I 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017Mr. Rogers asked how long ago Pap had died. It was a couple months. His grandfather was obviously gone decades. 22/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017He still wished the old man was here. Wished he still had the boat. You'll never stop missing the people you love, Mr. Rogers said. 23/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017The grandfather gave Mr. Rogers the row boat as reward for something. I forget what. Grades, or graduation. Something important. 24/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017He didn't have either now, but he had that work ethic, that knowledge that the old man encouraged with his gift. 25/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017"Those things never go away," Mr. Rogers said. I'm sure my eyes looked like stewed tomatoes. 26/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017Finally, 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/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017Mr. Rogers was there for me then. So here's this story, on the 50th anniversary of his show, for anyone who needs him now. 28/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017I never saw him again. But that "helper" quote? That's authentic. That's who he was. For real. 29/ pic.twitter.com/VQ6vt6Lr3c
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017When Mr. Rogers died in 2003, I sat at my computer with tears in my eyes. But I wasn't crying over the death of a celebrity. 30/
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017I was mourning the loss of a neighbor.
31/end
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) May 23, 2017Excuse me while I finish bawling my eyes out.
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