Everybody longs to be a part of something. Everybody wants to contribute to their family
or circle of friends. Everybody wants to
be valued. Sheriff Andy Taylor made that happen for the residents of Mayberry. He did it for Aunt Bee in the very first
episode, The
New House Keeper. He did it for Opie in Mr. McBeevee. He did it for Barney over and over; Lawman
Barney, Crime Free Mayberry, Barneys Sidecar, on and on, and
on. He even did it for old cranky Ben Weaver in The Christmas Story
episode.
Three days in Westminster gave me insight to another
layer of Mayberry Magic. My wife was not
able to attend the Mayberry Comes to Westminster event with me this year. She hosted a group of her college friends at
our house for the weekend. They had a
great time “catching up” with them. Meanwhile, some 260 miles northwest of my
home on the beautiful South Carolina coast, I was also having a great time...at
another event celebrating our favorite "Home Town."
Most traveled with their spouses and or families to the
event. After all, it is a family
event. Some of us traveled alone to this
event. Now I say this, not to make those
who did not travel feel bad in any way.
There were those that had other events, previous commitments, recovering
from illnesses or even surgery. Whatever
the reason. I know for a fact it wasn't that those folks didn't want to
attend.
While at Mayberry Events, we enjoy parades, pageants, car
shows, special breakfast events and dinners, silent auctions and shopping for
Mayberry paraphernalia, Tribute Artist Shows, Trivia Contests, special musical
guests, and especially those stars from the original Andy Griffith Show cast,
and their families. At the Mayberry Comes
to Westminster (MCTW) event on May 2-3, we had the wonderful Karen Knotts, in her one woman show;
paying tribute to her dad, the great Don
Knotts. We had Rodney Dillard, of the original Darlings from the show with his lovely
wife Beverly and the Dillard Band, entertainment was nothing
shy of awesome.
Now here's where I talk about the other STARS of the
weekend...and to the layer of Mayberry Magic I spoke about earlier. The merchants and residents in Westminster
opened their town to us, just as if they were bringing guest into their
homes. The merchants and sponsors who
support this fantastic festival are to be commended and supported. Local stores and eateries were friendly and
accommodating. Organizer Tom Rusk and his wife Kathy welcomed us into their
home on Friday morning for a “Brunch” and time of fellowship for the Tribute
Artists and the special guests, original cast members and grand marshal of the
event. The Rusk's pour their heart and
soul into this event and it's always well planned and runs with efficiency. Mrs.
Rusk commented as to the dedication of Tom to make this event great when she
said, “Starting around February or March, Tom and I don’t see each other as
often…he’s so heavy into the planning of the event.” I’m sure Mrs. Rusk stays pretty busy herself
with the event…we all know that behind every good “Mayberry Man” is a “Mayberry
Woman.”
The rest of the STARS are here: Being one of the newer Tribute Artists on the
block, (as Col. Harvey) this group has welcomed me in and adopted me as a part
of that close knit family. We spend a
good bit of time at the events together, either on stage, in parades, just
walking around town, or in the hotel lobby.
We share fun times, meals and stories, like families do. We rehearse so
we can bring fun and memories from The Andy Griffith Show to life for
everyone. We support and encourage one
another, like a family should. We engage
with the festival attendees and recreate scenes from the show to enhance not
only their experience, but ours as well.
And we share the love, compassion, and give personal value to everyone
we meet, like a family would. At any Mayberry event, whether you come alone or with others…what you experience
is a step back in time to the wonderful values that make a "Family." Oh, there are a lot of these values in
families today, but it just seems different somehow, when you look back to your
childhood.
Tribute
Artists Barney Fife (David Browning), Floyd Lawson (Allan Newsome), Otis Campbell
(Kenneth Junkin), Goober Pyle (Tim Pettigrew), Gomer Pyle (Michael Oliver), Howard
Sprague (Jeff Branch), Millie Swanson (Tammy Branch), Andylina (Christie
McLendon), Ernest T. Bass (Phil Fox), Salt and Pepper Barney and Thelma Lou (Ronnie
and Elease Felker), Mayor Pike (Eric Lowry), Hoggette Winslow (Mike McLendon),
Briscoe Darling (Bob Mundy), Col. Harvey (Keith Brown), and others would love
to see you at a Mayberry Event near you.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to attend a
Mayberry Event, find an event closest to you, and go! When Barney starts tugging at his collar…when
he clears his throat…when he starts hitting his fist on the side of his holster…GO! Don’t wait, just GO! He might count to three;
he might miss you…but just GO!
Click HERE for the
Mayberry Events Calendar
Click HERE to go to and join for FREE, the
iMayberry Community….where it’s all Mayberry…all the time.
Have a
Mayberry Day,
Keith “Col.
Harvey” Brown
