I was a “Sesame Street” girl. Plain and simple. “Sesame Street” was my life. I am old enough to have watched the first season. There is a picture of me, in my little red corduroy jumper, sitting in my little rocking chair, watching “Sesame Street”. I look completely brainwashed. My face has gone dead with admiration and awe. “Electric Company” was, to my estimation, “too loud”. It began, after all, with Rita Moreno shrieking: “HEYYY, YOU GUYYYYYYYYYS!” I found that too loud. It was too rowdy. I was not a rowdy child. “Mr. Rogers” was not my scene, either, although I did watch it from time to time. <\/p>\n
My sister Siobhan was the “Mr. Rogers” devotee in the house. She, as a 3 year old, referred to him as “Fred”. Clearly, they were on a first-name basis. “Fred’s on,” she would announce, marching towards the television. <\/p>\n
She loved him. <\/p>\n
We had some of his albums. With classics such as “Fancy” … I think that’s what it was called. <\/p>\n
“Boys are fancy on the outside
\nGirls are fancy on the inside
\nEverybody’s fancy
\nEverybody’s fine
\nYour body’s fancy
\nAnd so is mine.” <\/p>\n
Can you imagine a child-show host getting away with that now? But it wasn’t too sophisticated or jaded for a child’s taste. It spoke right into our listening as children. It seemed like information we needed to know, and it not only validated both sides, but we were both “fancy.” I admit, as a teeny little tot, I would say to myself, at times, with pride, “I’m fancy on the inside.” Why did I know this? Because “Fred” told me so. <\/p>\n
I thank Mr. Rogers for that! <\/p>\n
Thank you for your contribution, Fred! You have been a part of my consciousness as long as I can remember. A show like that will not come along again. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I was a “Sesame Street” girl. Plain and simple. “Sesame Street” was my life. I am old enough to have watched the first season. There is a picture of me, in my little red corduroy jumper, sitting in my little … Continue reading