It's been more than two years now since Mr. Rogers died, and I still feel like the world lost good old dad. I grew up with Mr. Rogers, his show actually airing for the first time the year I was born - 1967. I don't remember a time when he wasn't on TV in the afternoons, walking through the door of his TV home with a big, welcoming smile on his face, taking off his sports coat and replacing it with one of his various cardigan sweaters, and singing that same, predictable song that we all chuckle at now, but which we all sang along with then: "Won't you be my neighbor?"

We all know the words, don't we? I could sing them in my sleep, as well as the words to the ending "good-bye" song that he sang as he put everything away and promised to see us again next time. We knew he would keep his word and be there right on schedule. Mr. Rogers always kept his word. He was always there, always smiling, always kind, always accepting and affirming.

Mr. Rogers taught us how to use our imaginations. He took us with the magical trolley into the neighborhood of make-believe full of fanciful people, puppets, and creatures that dealt with most of the same issues children deal with in their lives. We hadn't a clue at the time that Mr. Rogers himself was behind that make believe neighborhood, providing the voices for most of the puppets, including King Friday, Queen Sarah, Lady Elaine, and many others. And Mr. Rogers was always waiting diligently for us when we returned with the trolley.

Mr. Rogers taught us how to care for creatures, as he lovingly fed his fish each day. He taught us hospitality as he gladly and cheerfully welcomed any and everyone into his home with a handshake and a warm smile. He taught us kindness and generosity as he took us from place to place in his neighborhood, greeting the other "neighbors" with such warmth and dignity. And Mr. Rogers took us to places we otherwise never would have gone. Crayon factories, Orange Juice factories, Piano makers' shops, and many other such places where we learned how things are made and how things work. He took us to the theater and the opera, exposing us to things only adults get to see.

Most importantly, Mr. Rogers taught us courage and confidence in the face of danger or difficult situations. He taught us to always tell our parents if someone treats us improperly. He taught us to stand up for our human rights and not allow someone else to bully or abuse us. He assured us that if someone hurt us, it was not ok. In the end, he always made us feel important and special, as every child is.

When Mr. Rogers died, he left behind a legacy that went from me to my children. They were almost past the age of watching his shows when he passed on, but they miss him, too. If he was like a father to me, he was like a grandfather to them, and we all miss him very much.