I recently finally had the opportunity to see the movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”. From the very first jingle of the movie, a flood of emotions from my childhood came back to me. I had so many fond memories of this show. And so many visions of a simpler time. There was an innocence that somehow gravitated to Mr. Rogers and his show. He touched decades of kids and adults alike. Even though I would have never admitted watching this show when I was young. My friends would have definitely given me a bad time. Even though I knew realistically, they were watching too.
When I latched ahold of this show when I was young, I never quite understood why? Was it the puppets? Was it the songs? The beautiful piano in the background. Or was it something else? It wasn’t until I watched this movie that it made me realize just what it was. It was the genuine nature of the show. No frills. And extremely honest. And unlike watching a TV show or movie, Mr. Rogers was extremely relatable. And really, he wasn’t acting. He was just being himself. That was something that was very relatable for me growing up in South Dakota.
People may not have always been as friendly as Mr. Rogers, but South Dakota has some very honest, real, and humble people that make up the majority of the state. With kind hearts, love, and a willingness to help each other. Let me give some examples of what I mean.
It was Halloween. And South Dakota, in true unpredictable fashion, decided it was going to snow. A lot. But that wasn’t going to stop me and my friends from going out and filling up on candy. After hours of getting candy and freezing our fingers and toes. We decided to go to one of my friends and warm up. We had decided that just maybe it wasn’t a great night to be trick or treating anymore. And it was time to go home. I was on the other side of town from my house though. So I knew I had to move fast. But halfway home, I started to feel that I was getting really cold. And I no longer could feel my toes or hands. And the snow was much deeper than I thought. Suddenly a car came up behind me. As the lights shined on me my first thought was that I accidently wondered into the road. “Would you like a ride home? It’s miserable out here.” I didn’t know the person, but I was starting to get nervous. And I took him up on the ride. He dropped me off at my house. I thanked him. “No problem. You looked like you were freezing. Take care.”
Another story I have, I had broken my leg. And even though I had broke it at work, I wasn’t getting full paychecks. Bills were coming up and I was having a hard time cooking or functioning in general. Suddenly one day, an envelope with cash in it showed up in the mailbox. And a note. It read “Don’t worry about where this money came from. Just use it to help.” I never did find out who left it.
I was in line at a check out with some groceries. I handed over my debit card, only for them to tell me I was ten dollars short. I looked down at the counter and started to figure out what I needed to put back. And what I could do without. Suddenly, an older man standing behind me put ten dollars down on the counter. “Sir thank you, but I’ll be ok with out….” “Don’t you worry about it! And if you hand that money back to me you will really make me mad.”
There are a ton of stories just like this. And in a day and age when only the bad stuff seems to get the spotlight, we could probably use some more of these stories. The good news, you really don’t have to look far to find amazing people like this. But I just wonder if people truly understand what they have done? Fred Rogers made a request at the Emmys when he got his lifetime achievement award.
“Would you just take, along with me, 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are. Those who have cared for you and wanted what was best for you in life.” Fred Rogers
I have no doubt that you could think of these people too. Close your eyes and try it. Who are people that have helped you? People that wanted the best for you? That wanted to see you succeed. Moms, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, and friends can come to mind. But what about that random stranger? The one that held the door for you. The one that gave you a smile. The people that gave you absolute kindness for no other reason then just to do it. They are all your neighbors. South Dakotan’s help each other. And at the end of the day I think this was what Mr. Rogers was trying to accomplish. To make the people he came in touch with happy, put a smile on their face, and show there are people everywhere that want to show you love and kindness. Even though Mr. Rogers wasn’t a South Dakotan, I’m pretty sure he could have been. And he would have fit right in.
Until Next time.
Grandpa Wayne
Mary jo Bertrand