by Tim MadiganWhen I bought this I didn't know Fred Rogers was Mr. Rogers from Mr. Rogers' Neighbhorhood. I didn't know anything about Mr. Rogers except that my mom couldn't stand his show and that there was a rumor going around that he'd had a dishonorable discharge from the military. I wish I'd known sooner what a beautiful human being he was.
Tim Madigan is a journalist who had the good fortune of interviewing Mr. Rogers years ago. That interview blossomed into a lifelong friendship. There is little more beautiful to me than grown men sharing deep platonic love and theirs brought me to tears more than once.
It was so intimate that Tim shared the trouble that had been brewing in him since he was young. He felt limited and frustrated in life because his father had never been proud of him. He asked Mr. Rogers if he would be proud of him in a letter. Of course he would. Mr. Rogers signed off most of his correspondence from there on out "IPOY" (I'm proud of you.)
Mr. Rogers really was as wonderful as he was portrayed on his show. He was there for Tim when Tim's brother was dying of cancer and with the entire family throughout the ordeal offering his support and suffering right along with them.
When Mr. Rogers finally passed he did so quiety so as not to draw attention to himself even though he was in excruciating pain from stomach cancer. He is a great mentor who will live forever through his legacy.
General consensus: This book made me a better person and I believe everyone can benefit from reading it. (I now sign off IPOY in the intimate correspondence I have with one of my greatest friends.)
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