Mister Rogers. It’s been a solid 35 years since I watched that show and I’m just beginning to appreciate some of the genius there. It’s Friday night and I’m in my slippers thinking about Queen Sara Saturday and King Friday in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

I was a Sesame Street girl. I thought it was a little weird and poncy that Mr. Rogers changed his shoes and sweater when he came into his house. My dad is about as far from a cardigan wearing man as you can imagine. It’s only now that I can acknowledge the beauty behind this very marked transition from “out there” to “in here”.

Everyone has a very public and private self. Our work clothes and badges, doctor’s coats and uniforms, they’re all a form of armor. What defines us at home? For me it’s my slippers. What is it for you? A tattered college sweatshirt? The paint splattered yoga pants that you should probably throw, but damn it, you love them?

I’m my most authentic, ugliest, and loving self at home. Changing into my slippers allows me to cast off, as much as possible, my public persona. In today’s land of connectedness we could use a little more singing, cardigan wearing, trips into the neighborhood of make-believe.

I celebrate the idea of King Friday. In our home it’s pizza night, not by royal decree, just by lovely happenstance that became tradition. I look forward to Queen Sara Saturday. She gets real coffee with cream and the chicklets get to watch cartoons and eat crappy pop tarts for breakfast. What I enjoy most though is putting on my slippers and feeling like, while I’m home, I can create and reside in the neighborhood of make-believe. It’s ok to sing, fart, yell, snort-laugh and ugly-cry at home. Read and feeds, pajamas days, and lego marathons are encouraged. I think Mister Rogers would approve. And these slippers really are cute as hell.  Enjoy King Friday, my friends!

Won’t you be my neighbor? Keep sharing moxie!