Linda and I had a most wonderful Mayberry weekend. It began Saturday afternoon when we took part in Eau Claire's annual International Folk Festival Parade of Nations. Upward of 25,000 people filled the streets of downtown Eau Claire to experience the wonderful diversity our city offers. The parade was very slow moving due to the large crowds lining the streets, so it was so easy to interact with everyone. Just listening to the applause as "The Whistling Hole" filled the air and hearing folks yell out "Hi Barney" was indeed an emotional packed moment.
Then on Sunday we traveled back to Medford, Wisconsin, a town of about 4500. I grew up ten miles from Medford and I attended a small teachers college there for two years back in the '70s. I was the keynote speaker for a 50th anniversary celebration for the city hospital. I was reunited with some dear friends whom I hadn't seen in many years and everyone at the banquet was so receptive to Mayberry. There were several state legislators in the audience, several clergymen, and the rest were volunteers from the hospital. It was truly a delightful evening. Even one of my former principals was in the audience as well as a niece and nephew who surprised us by showing up. And to top it off, when they found out I donated my speaking fees and book sales to my hometown library, they double their donation as well as buying some books to give away as door prizes. But the best part, as usual, was the fellowship after the program. No matter where I travel and no matter to whom I speak, the love of Mayberry and what it represents is so real. To hear a priest pray for what Mayberry represents in the closing prayer was so special. It saddens me that our parade season is now over and it will be many months before I can once again share my love for Mayberry during parades. But I have another seven presentations scheduled down the road, so all is not lost. Ken Anderson The Mayberry Guru 2906 May Street Eau Claire, WI 54701 715-839-8470 www.mayberryreflections.com [email protected] _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
