So far in my life I've only found myself truly shaken up over the death of two celebrities. One was Abraham Polanski. He was one of my college Professors and a friend. The man was a true cinematic genius and I feel lucky to have known him. He died on my birthday a few years back. I took the obituary that "Entertainment Weekly" printed about him and put it in the diary I kept back then. The other was Roddy McDowell. He was an amazing actor and a friend of my Mom's. I never had the chance to meet him and now I never will. Today, a third celebrity can be added to that list.


On my way to school this morning I heard on KNX that Mr. Rogers had died. I never knew him, I never met him, but he did touch my life. As a child his show was my favorite and I believe that I became a better person because of the life lessons that he taught. I was sad to see his show go off the air a few years ago, and I felt like I had been slapped in the face when I heard the radio announcer tell the world of his death this morning. You might think I'm silly because I care about this, but I grew up on his show. It feels as if I have lost another piece of my childhood.


The world has lost someone who truly cared about people and wanted to change the world for the better.