A New Mayberry

This week we celebrated the 236th birthday of our country and we said good-bye to a cherished friend.  Although I dont usually discuss celebrities in this space, or, in my real life, I find it fitting to say thanks for the memories to Andy Griffith.

A long time ago the show that made him famous "The Andy Griffith Show" was a staple in the lives of all of us.  We watched it on a black and white TV, which worked out just fine since it was in black and white.  It was simple and charming.  It had nothing flashy to attract you to it, just a man, his son, his friends and his work.  But within it were the lessons of life.  Be just. Be honest. Tell the people you love that you love them. Tease each other. Work hard. Like folks who may be a little odd. Believe in family. Take time to go fishin'.  Be a part of your community. Smile. Have patience with the people who will test it often. Think before you speak. Go out on top, if you can. Hug your children. Whistle.

The characters on that show are classic.  Barney Fife, Opie, Aunt Bee, Gomer Pyle.  Loved and loveable no matter their ineptness, wild ideas, over protectiveness or just plain folksiness.   How like us all and the families we are a part of.  I can assign people from my life now to play the parts of the show.  I can imagine them trying to solve problems, right wrongs and share experiences while someone, who knows who, is wearing the apron! It would be the new Mayberry with so many different voices blending in to make up my life now.  My life in living color.

It would include family characters, of course, but also local flavor.  A combination of old school thoughts, wild and crazy antics, song and dance, stories of falling down and getting up again, Pinterest pages and community scandal.  My new Mayberry would be peppered with bald babies, school age children, talented teenagers, wise old adults and everyone in between.  The world travelers and the home bodies, the well read and the cereal box readers, those that see the world with rose colored glasses and those that view it from behind the lens.  Banana lovers, Whipple bathers and Amish farmers. And my dog.

Quite a bunch. I am lucky to have these characters in the story of my life. It is hardly ever boring.

So, thank you to Mr. Andy Griffith, for all the joy you have given and all the inspiration you have provided.  As much as I may sometimes like it I dont think we can go back to that simpler time.  I will be content to try and incorporate the lessons learned into my new Mayberry. Maybe I will take up fishin'.