Mr Rogers is always Good and Excellent. Today we were watching an episode that featured a visit of a trumpet factory; of course the "how it's made" aspect is delightful, but what really struck me was how Mr. Mcfeely (who was narrating) was careful to name every single person as they went from station to station, machine to machine. Even before we knew what was to be done next on the trumpet he carried piece by piece through the assembly process we knew who was doing it, and then were often given a little detail about their life--how long they had done this, or whether they were or knew someone who was a trumpet player or some other small detail. I find this delightful.
I've been thinking a lot recently how much labor can be devalued or otherwise not acknowledged--we see only an end product, not how it was made let alone who did it. The result is seeming all that matters, not the thoughts, efforts, and time that it took to get there. This is deeply antithetical to my very being, if that has not been made clear by all the things I love to make and try to make, and I took great delight in seeing Marshall and Cathy and Joe and so many others making a myriad of trumpets together.