Heroes, part 1: Prologue and Mister Rogers.

I'm going to begin a series of blogs devoted to those individuals that I consider my inspiration in life or, for lack of a better term, my heroes.

I'm going to turn 49 in a little over two weeks and I want to get these people documented so that one day those who follow me on this planet will have an idea of who I am or, depending on when this is read, who I was.

This will be a continuing series, which means that it has a beginning but it doesn't necessarily have an "end".  In addition, some of those on this list may not be considered heroic in the traditional sense. 

I'll begin with a man who helped shape me as a person, as well as millions of others through several generations, Fred (Mister) Rogers.

I was born in 1968 in Wilkinsburg  Pennsylvania, a suburb or borough of Pittsburgh.  My mother introduced me to two TV shows that were instrumental in my early development, Sesame Street and Mister Rogers Neighborhood.

Prior to the creation of these two programs, television for kids...in particular, educational programs...we're pretty scarce, nearly non existent. 

Sesame Street, which will be honored in an upcoming entry, spoke to me in true "rote" learning of letters and numbers, while Mister Rogers spoke to me as a person.  A child, to be sure, but a child who counted as a person.

My mom tells me that when I watched the show, and Mister Rogers spoke to me I would answer him as if he was there with me in the room.  He didn't preach or dictate to me about things, but he talked to me and not "at" me.

He was a friend and he made me feel as if I was his.  He told me that it was all right to be scared, but often times things that frighten you are really nothing.  That help wad thrte and you could trust people to help you if you were in trouble.

For example, I learned not to be afraid of doctors police officers and firefighters, as they were the "helpers" and that you could go to them when you were sick, hurt, lost or scared.  He showed me how to do cool stuff like arts & crafts and science.

He died in 2003.  I have been very defensive of Mister Rogers as the advent of the Internet has perpetuated some very disturbing myths about him, some absurd,  some vicious, all untrue.  He was too good a person. 

So Fred Rogers, you're my hero.  You're also my first hero on my list.

And in my life.