If any of you are like me at all, there is a deep sadness in your heart today.

Bob Keeshan, better known to generations of children as Captain Kangaroo, died after a long illness at the age of 76.

I have so many memories of that show, and the good old Captain himself running around in my brain. Every morning before school I would sit on the floor with my cream-of-wheat, two pieces of toast with real butter and a cup of english breakfast tea and watch the Captain until I absolutely HAD to leave for school.

You know, I was never dissapointed. Simon would draw on the wall with his magic chalk and make everything okay in the land of make believe. Mr. Moose would always drop a hunkin' load of ping-pong balls on the Captain's head. And Mr. Green Jeans would always be running after Dennis to make sure he wasn't screwing something else up.

The songs still run through my head sometimes. I still see that ferris wheel with Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Moose in the opening credits.

And most of all, I still see the Captain, his long white sideburns hanging down the sides of his chubby face, framing a smile that always made you smile back.

I hope they give his red jacket to the Smithsonian, complete with ping-pong ball in one of the oversized pockets.

Thanks Mr. Keeshan. Bob. Captain.

You made my childhood a little better.

Joseph Haines, signing off from The Edge of the Abyss.