Mayberry, why do we love it? by Jimmy Phillips For me it is because of the people. They were all friends and treated each other with so much respect you would have thought they were all kin to one another. Always looking out for each other, it never crossed their minds to ever harm someone, even with words. They were a class act that has never been duplicated and probably never will.
When I think of Mayberry I think of how a father teaches his young boy all of the important lessons in life, honesty, integrity, loyalty, and respect. "Paw, that cage sure does look empty, yes son, but don't the trees look nice and full." I think of a gourmet chef that could cook anything and make your mouth water, except pickles, those made your eyes water. I think of gas station attendant who wanted to be doctor and ended up in the Marine Corps because of what his daddy once told him. I think of his cousin who still reads comic books, can't seem to ever find himself a girl but can take a car completely apart and reassemble it in the courthouse in just a couple of hours. I think of a deputy who's hilarious antics has won the heart of whole town, and his best friend and cousin would always get him out of a jam and make him look good without ever letting anyone else know about it(remember the avalanche in the cave). I think of the all beautiful mountain music played by the Darlin's(not that one Pa, it makes me cry). I met Maggie Peterson last year at JCC in Smithfield, NC, she just grabbed me hugged me like she'd known me all my life. After we got to the car we realized that the picture did not turn out that well, so I went back to ask her for another, she said; you just came back to get another hug, let me see that camera! I ended up with three hugs that night, she was just a delightful lady! And who could forget that little man who was a little mean but made up for it by bein' real healthy, and if he'd a sawed you comin he'd a rose both arms and a woved at you. He was only in six episodes but everyone knows the little man who did not like to be called a "creechture." He never chews his cabbage twice and you ain't heard last of Ernest T. Bass. And then you have the sheriff who keeps everything in perspective with logic and plain old common sense, his loyalty and friendship to everyone is unparalleled, even to the town drunk Otis. Whom he instills a little pride in whenever he gets the chance, I do to have a hobby, drinking. And old Rafe Hollister, man could that cat sing, and if he liked you, he'd bring you a fresh picked mess-of-string beans. And they all attended the "All Souls Church on Sunday's and spent the afternoon on the porch just being lazy, unless they down to the drugstore to get a bottle of pop. Wait a minute, "what's your hurry!" Yes, those were the days! I guess most people when they die hope to move on to Heaven. I don't believe I need any streets of gold, but I will take that new body. NO, I believe when I die if I was asked where I want to go I would say Mayberry, but then again, that is Heaven! At least for some of us. _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
