Meet Me at the Fishin' Hole

I have been trying to think of ways to put my blog "out there" so that I can more effectively share my thoughts with others. I am becoming fascinated with the idea of featuring a weekly journal prompt (thanks, April!). Here is my very first prompt:

"If you could live in any TV show for a week, which one would it be and why?"

The answer is simple: I would want to live Mayberry, North Carolina, on the Andy Griffith Show, where the livin' is slow and sweet.

First of all, I was raised on the Andy Griffith Show. I have had all of the episodes practically memorized for as long as I can remember. This is all due to my wonderful parents and their quirky ways. In fact, my parents were official members of the Andy Griffith Show Re-run Watchers Club as I was growing up. We used to receive a newsletter (The Bullet). We owned many of the episodes on video cassette before owning seasons of TV shows was either popular or possible. We traveled to Mt. Airy, North Carolina, where a faux Mayberry is set up, complete with Floyd's Barbershop. We quoted whole scenes in the car and laughed ourselves silly. We attended "Mayberry Days" in New Castle, Indiana, for at least two years in a row to meet the stars (I have met Thelma Lou, Goober, and The Darlings). We owned the Dillards' (featured as the Darlings on the show) album and listened to it often.

I appreciate the peace a town like Mayberry would provide. Sure, Barney gets the town worked up over the silliest things, but that's just it, they are silly...and they can all be worked out in half an hour! I think the characters of the show exude that peace and simple living because they have family values that keep them rooted. They can always turn to each other in times of need.

Speaking of family, Andy's parenting style is something to admire. The episode entitled "Opie and the Spoiled Kid" is a classic example. Andy stays perfectly calm while Opie throws a fit instead of throwing a fit with him, as today's parents are inclined to do. He has rules for his household, and he expects his son to abide by them. Whenever Opie or anyone else in town is in a tight spot, however, Andy gives them the encouragement and help they need, all the while making his friends and family feel that they have figured things out for themselves.

The values of the show deeply influence its humor. Instead of relying on sex to provide the material for the jokes, the writers of the Andy Griffith Show relied on real, multi-dimensional humor, including one-liners, slapstick, and carefully crafted chemistry between and among characters. This, I believe, requires more wit and wisdom than the writers demonstrate in today's situation comedies.

While I could go on and on about more reasons I love the show, I'll close with this one. I love the folk music featured on so many episodes! When I was at IU this summer, we studied the song "Shady Grove" in folksong analysis. I said to the professor, "Oh, I know that one! I heard it on the Andy Griffith Show." I believe that folk and bluegrass are two of my favorite musical genres for the simple reason that I was exposed to them so often through Andy.

Now, as my mom would say before I left for school (she borrowed this one from Andy), "GO OUT AND ACT LIKE SOMEBODY."

What TV show would you like to live on for a week?