Last August there was a wonderful article in the Pioneer Press,  done by Mary Ann Grossman  ( Book Critic) ,  and it was about a book called "I'm Proud of You" by Tim Madigan.

The author of the book,  Tim Madigan,   grew up in Mn.,  Crookston to be exact, and writes for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in Texas.   His book talks about his friendship with Fred Rogers,  whom he met in 1995.   Tim had it all,  a wife,  son,  daughter,  he'd published a book " See No Evil:  Blind Devotion and Bloodshed in David Koresh's Holy War".   He wasn't happy though,  he was going through a horrible depression,   which he said runs in his family and he was thinking of divorce.

Tim felt that his meeting Fred Rogers, when he did, was no coincidence,   he was coping with what he called his "furies",  depression,  self-loathing,  complex and painful feelings regarding his dad and then the major illness of his younger brother.  Fred came into his life at just the right moment,  which seems to happen for so many of us....when all is bleak.

Quoting the article word for word here,  Tim says of a coversation with Fred:   "  One of the first times I talked to him on the phone,  he said,  'Tim,  the most important thing in the world right now is that I am talking to Tim Madigan on the telephone'.   How important that is,  to "be in the moment"  and pay attention to the person you're with,  to really hear them,  and to genuinely care about and for them!

Unknown to me,  Fred Rogers was a Presbyterian minister.  That does explain to me,  partially,  how he had so much genuine kindness towards others.  Mostly he was just a warm-hearted guy. 

My former boyfriend told me that he himself used to watch Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and when I asked him why,  he said that while he was going through his divorce he accidentally landed on PBS while surfing and the show that day was about,  yep,  divorce.

He told me that the shows dealt with subject matter that affect all of us,  regardless of age.  Things like divorce,  anger,  jealous feelings,  being different,  and so much more.  So yes,  I too became a fan of Fred Rogers and have found that some days  I just seem to tune in to that show at the right moment.  Doesn't that happen to you too?  You find that you have an urge to change channels and you find something on tv that is exactly what you need to see or about something that pertains to you or interests you? 

I'd wanted to write about this year old article many times,   and kept putting it off,  then this afternoon I saw Brad's article about depression and meds, and  felt I had  to write about Fred,  Tim Madigan,  and not giving up hope.

For that's all we have,  it seems to me.  Belief in ourselves,  when no one else does,   being as kind as we can possibly remember to be,  and doing as little harm as humanly possible.  I think Fred Rogers would be all for that,  as would thousands of others.