One of my favorite things to do while watching all the various episodes of
TAGS is to pay special attention to all the front porches that are on the
homes within Mayberry. I believe I am partial to front porches on old
houses because the big old house I grew up in had a 40 foot front porch
along the entire front of our house. The first home my wife and I bought
for $14,000 had a nice screened in porch along the front of the house. Many
happy hours were spent on these porches during the long lazy summers back in
the Midwest during the mid 1950' and early 1960's. My best friend Greg and
I would walk long slow walks all over the small town of Dorchester almost
every night and we would speak to the many people who were spending a
leisurely evening sitting on their porch relaxing after a hard days work.
When I see the porches on all those Mayberry homes I can't help but think of
all the important events that took place on those front porches. How many
frightened parents said their tearful goodbyes to their sons going off to
war while standing on a front porch. How many tearful mothers were standing
on their front porch when they were handed a military telegram telling then
that they son was either missing in action or had bee killed in the line of
duty,
Of course there were the happy events that took place on those porches,.
Think of all the young people in love who received their first kiss on a
porch while saying goodnight to the person of their dreams. How many front
porches in Mayberry were the location of numerous children playing games
during a warm summer day or just listening to the sounds of the night on a
warm summer night with no fear of school the following day, I often wonder
how many bushels of beans have been snipped on those porches or how many
gallons of homemade ice cream were created on such a porch.
Newly married brides and grooms often said their tearful farewells to their
loved ones standing on a porch before they headed off to their own new world
to begin a new life together. Distance families returning for a family
gathering would often see each other for the first time while standing on
that front porch. Card Tables with an array of foods were often served out
on those delightful friendly front porches.
Yes the front porch had a purpose. It brought people together during good
times and bad times. It was a natural gathering place for neighbors go join
together for friendly talk and cool drinks as the long summer days drew to a
close.
The next time you watch an episode of TAGS pay special attention to all the
houses that have porches. I miss porches very much, I have a very
beautiful fenced in patio behind our house and our flower gardens surround
it. But you won't find me sitting back on my patio during the warm summer
evenings. I gather up several lawn chairs and I sit out by the front of my
house and I make sure I have at least one empty one with me. People still
go out walking in our neighborhood,. The only problem is there are no
porches to sit on for a visit. So we improvise and this old porch sitter
still enjoys it as much as I used to do - even without the porch.
Ken Anderson
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
[email protected]
www.mayberryreflections.com
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