Is your Club or Group looking for an inspiring guest speaker or do you want to host a book signing? . . . Contact Woody today!

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For a Personalized Autographed copy of “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME” or “WOODEN & ME” mail a check for $25 to:

Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

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Part 1 link from last week:

http://woodywoodburn.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3721&action=edit)

Part 2: Return Letter From Mister Rogers

It was a beautiful day in a Ventura neighborhood for a three-and-half-year-old boy when he received an answer to a letter he had mailed a few weeks earlier.

It arrived on letterhead with alternating purple, gold and pink letters reading “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” at the top and dated January 2001. At the page’s bottom is an image of the familiar red Neighborhood Trolley.

One more thing of interest: One cannot help but read it and in their mind’s ears hear Mister Rogers’ familiar and friendly television voice.

“Dear Franklin,

“It meant a lot to me that you wanted to send me a letter. It was kind of your mother to help by typing the words into the computer. You are fortunate to have a mother who cares so much about you and about your ideas and questions.

“Franklin, I also liked the way you wrote your name on the letter and the way you put all kinds of fancy stickers on the letter and envelope. You certainly have good ideas.

“It’s wonderful to know you’re interested in how people make different things. You told us you’d like to have a book that explains how people make different things or a video of our factory visits. There are some books in the library about how people make different things. Maybe a librarian could help you and your mother to find those books. There are many ways to learn more about the things that interest you.

“We haven’t made one video with our factory visits, but we’re glad to send our calendars to your family so you can know when we’ll be showing how people make different things.

“It’s good to know you are someone who wonders about things and asks questions. Wondering and asking are important for growing and learning. I’m proud of the many ways you’re growing, and I hope you are, too.

“You are special, and you make each day a special day – just because you’re you.

“Your television friend,

“Mister Rogers” (signed in blue ink)

If this note were not remarkable enough, there was something more. A second letter:

“Dear Mrs. Hansen,

“Thank you for helping your son Franklin send us his delightful letter and also for taking the time to add your own warm comments about our programs. You and your son have truly made this a more beautiful day in our Neighborhood – in many ways!

“Nothing could please us more than to know there’s a second generation in your family growing up with our Neighborhood, and we’re glad you have such good feelings about what your children experience with us. Thank you, too, for your kind words about our articles in Ladybug Magazine.

“While we’re honored to know how much your family appreciates what we offer, at the same time, we want you to know that we are very much aware that children who seem to like our Neighborhood best are the ones who have already experienced the deep investment of love in their own families, and so they are able to understand what we offer. That was certainly confirmed once again in your kind note to us and in the attention you gave Franklin’s questions for us, and I couldn’t help but think how fortunate your children are to be growing up in your caring home.”

The letter continues onto another page and concludes:

“Please give everyone in your family our kindest regards. We will remember with great pleasure that the Hansens are a part of our Neighborhood . . . and that we’re part of yours.

“Sincerely,

“Fred Rogers” (signed in blue ink)

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Check out my memoir WOODEN & ME: Life Lessons from My Two-Decade Friendship with the Legendary Coach and Humanitarian to Help “Make Each Day Your Masterpiece” and my essay collection “Strawberries in Wintertime: Essays on Life, Love, and Laughter” …

• Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com
• Unsigned paperbacks or Kindle ebook can be purchased here at Amazon