You know, it happens so often
I walk down the street and someone 20 or 30 or 40 years old will come up to me and say
You are Mr. Rogers, aren't you?
And then they tell me about growing up with the neighborhood
And how they're passing on to the children they know
What they found to be important in our television work
Like expressing their feelings through music and art and dance
And sports and drama and computers and writing
And invariably we end our little time together with a hug
I'm just so proud of all of you who have grown up with us
And I know how tough it is some days
To look with hope and confidence on the months and years ahead
But I would like to tell you what I often told you when you were much younger
I like you just the way you are