Bob Keeshan died today. There will be something wrong with the world now that Captain Kangaroo is gone.

I was 4 years old in 1955 when his program started, I imagine I might have even seen the first show on TV. I thought he was wonderful. He was always so gentle and funny. Just think of all the wonderful things they taught children without anything more complicated than a talking Grandfather clock and a couple of people in animal costumes. And we were riveted by the simple themes of the show. Now the TV people have bought into the idea that kids are more sophisticated and need more whiz bang stuff to keep their interest. I think they are full of hooey.

Children focus on one thing at a time and can study it for a long time if they are presented with a calm environment. No wonder kids are jaded and bored by the time they are 5 years old. They have watched hours of action packed programming with a vast array of special effects. It’s no surprise to me that when they get to school and their teacher is a mere human that doesn’t change into a superhero every 5 minutes, that they might be a little disappointed. And bored. Too bad.

And shame on us for forgetting what it is like to be a child.

* * *

It’s my birthday today. (23 January. Pay no attention to the date on this entry) :-) No I don’t want a birthday cake. What I WANT is a maple bar. (This is a donut with maple flavored frosting, for my far flung readers in other lands) I may have to go out and get one soon.

And my birthday treat is to wait till Shabbat is over tomorrow evening, and then go to Barnes and Noble and hang out and browse the books and then BUY one or two! Woo Hoo! I had my eye on a Yoga book that was on sale last time I was in there and just couldn’t pull the trigger.
Today my trigger finger is itching. . .

Anyway, I need to get going……. My maple bar is waiting for me at the store…..

And to Bob Keeshan,

Godspeed.

Thank you for helping make my childhood special.
And watch out for the ping pong balls !