I have enjoyed two visits to Mayberry Days over the past several years. Mt. Airy is 1,560 miles from my house, so it's not always an easy trek. However, sometimes I've been able to stop there when my wife visits her aunt nearby. Some of my favorite Mayberry moments have been these off-season, non-festival times when the streets of Mt. Airy have been quiet and I've been able to roam and explore the nooks, crannies, and backdoor alleys of Andy's hometown haunts. I've randomly met some fascinating people this way, sometimes even a friend or two of Andy's.
On one of these special days, I was all alone with the curator in the Andy Griffith Museum (the old location), studying every item with utmost interest and focus. With camera dangling from my neck, the museum's curator reminded me very kindly that this was the personal collection of Emmett Forrest and photography was not allowed. No more than five minutes later, the museum's door was flung open and a gentleman entered with friendly enthusiasm. The curator spoke with him a couple of minutes then asked if I would like to meet Emmett Forrest. I am usually a shy person, but Emmette immediately drew me into a cordial conversation that I'll never forget. He seemed impressed that I would travel such a distance on my TAGS pilgrimage. I was not a stranger to him. Next thing I knew, I was hearing Emmett explaining to both the curator and myself that he was authorizing my use of photography for anywhere and anything in the museum. It was a special act of trust and friendship that has been a long-lived hallmark of the Mayberry Spirit, but I had never before experienced it so up close. Beyond that surprise encounter, Emmett and I exchanged e-messages a couple of times, and I would never forget the day when he offered his fabulous museum collection to the camera of an unknown friend. I am very sad that we have lost so many of our Mayberry ancestors, and now especially mourn the death of Emmett Forrest. Larry in CO _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
