I dare you to take a trip to any of the Mayberry events and not come away feeling better about yourself and the world around you. It is a little like living in the past, and we all reminisce about the good old days…at least those of us who are old enough to have had “good old days.” I dare you to attend the next event. Travel a few miles, make a weekend out of it, bring along friends and relatives…I dare say, you will not be disappointed.
I dare you to attend one of the events and not make friends…or share a smile…or find life a little more laid back and peaceful than the life you left to travel to the event.
I dare you not to laugh at the antics of the many Tribute Artists…on the street, in the parade or on stage. These folks travel from all over the country to share in the Mayberry experience and bring a little joy to the fans of The Andy Griffith Show. The Tribute artists travel from states like Ohio, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Indiana. The Mayberry Deputy, Otis, Floyd, Ernest T., Gomer, Goober, Howard Sprague, Col. Harvey, Mr. Wheeler, Aunt Bee, Andylina, Mayor Pike, Barney & Thelma Lou, Opie, and Briscoe are true fans of the show, and love to be a part of your fun. Engage with them on the street and in parades. They would love to share a line from the show, give you an autograph and take pictures with you.
I dare you not to be in total awe of the actual stars of the show that come to the events…as well as the children and spouses of the stars. Not to be in awe of them for just being stars (although they deserve it), but to be in awe of them for how friendly they are, and willing to engage with the fans. These folks are stars, but they are great people first, and spending any time around them at all will convince you of their sincerity and how much they enjoy being at the events.
Even though many of you don’t know who might be the driving force, or the director behind making these events happen, I dare you to try and find out…and thank them. It is a lot of work and takes a lot of time and expense to make the Mayberry events as wonderful as they are for the fans and participants.
I dare you to look through the programs and event guides to see who the sponsors are…and then visit their places of business to shop…and to thank them for their sponsorship.
I dare you to support the extracurricular efforts of some of the Mayberry Events, like the golf tournaments, the pancake breakfasts, the car shows, the wonderful Eagle’s Wings fundraiser and the incredibly helpful D.A.R.E. fundraiser to mention a few. Attend the concerts and shows while at the events...you'll laugh and sing along and make memories that will last a lifetime.
I dare you to stop some of the Law Enforcement Officers on the street to thank them for being there and protecting everyone. It is such a small thing to say “Thank you!” but it makes a big impact on the men and women who serve us.
So...what do you say? Will you take the dare?
Come on out…I dare you!
Keith "Col. Harvey" Brown
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
It's MAYBERRY Season
Football is over…Basketball and Hockey is winding
down…Baseball is in the early stages of their season…so what season is next you
ask? It’s Mayberry Season.
So polish up your hats, dust off your good suit, bring your pens and T-shirts, charge your cameras and get ready for some great entertainment and good wholesome fun.
The anticipation of getting to a Mayberry Event is
so exciting. Many times the anticipation
of an event builds to such a high level of expectation, that the event itself
seems anti-climactic. Not so with a
Mayberry event. The “season” is upon us
as we start the spring and summer months and move through the major Mayberry
Festivals.
Here’s what’s in store for you this year as “Mayberry
Season” kicks off:
Apr. 23 and 24, 2015: Eagles’ Wings fundraiser event
in Tuscaloosa, AL. Mark your calendar
for this annual event that supports Eagles’ Wings efforts to assist adults with
disabilities. A golf tourney is on Thurs., and the dinner, silent
auction, and entertainment, including the Tribute Artists are also slated into
the fun. For info, call (205) 345-5484 or visit www.eagleswingsoftuscaloosa.org.
May
1-2, 2015: The next
event on the agenda as far as major festivals is Mayberry comes to Westminster. Mayberry tribute
artists (including David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Allan
“Floyd” Newsome, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, Phil “Ernest T.” Fox, Bob “Briscoe”
Mundy, Jeff “Howard” Branch, Keith “Col. Harvey” Brown, and Michael “Gomer”
Oliver, Eric “Mayor” Lowery, Tim “Goober” Pettigrew, Christie “Andelina Darling" McClendon,
and Bob “Briscoe Darling” Mundy”). There
will be look-a-like contests, trivia contests, Mayberry food, memorabilia, parades,
car shows, music, Tribute Artist shows, concerts and “stars” from the Andy
Griffith Show in Westminster, SC. LeRoy McNees will be on hand as TAGS alumni
and special guest. ATTENTION: David Browning's new book, "We have Extra Security Tonight: My Life as the Mayberry Deputy" will be on sale for the first time at any live event. You want to be there to get your copy! For more info, visit www.mayberrywestminster.com or
check out Mayberry Comes to Westminster, S.C., on Facebook.
May 15-17, 2015: Mayberry in the Midwest returns to Danville, Ind. Among the festival’s highlights are
the parade, the Mayberry Squad Car Nationals, and performances by the Mayberry
Tribute Artists. The special guest stars this year are Maggie
Peterson (Charlene Darling) and her Darling TV brother, Rodney
Dillard, and the Dillard Band, who will do a concert
on Saturday. Karen Knotts will also perform her
“Tied Up in Knotts” show on Sat. and Sun. afternoons. Visit www.mayberryinthemidwest.com
for more info and updates.
June 5 and 6, 2015: David
“Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, and
Christie “Andelina Darling” McLendon are back on the truck (or maybe off the
wagon in one case) for Mule Days
in Gordo, Ala.
Aug. 22: Rodney Dillard and Maggie Peterson are joined by
several of the Mayberry tribute artists (including David “Mayberry Deputy”
Browning, Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, Phil “Ernest
T.” Fox, Jeff “Howard” Branch, Keith “Col. Harvey” Brown, Michael “Gomer”
Oliver and Bob “Briscoe” Mundy”). ) for
a concert benefiting the Montgomery
County DARE program on Saturday at the James H. Garner Center in Troy,
N.C. Tickets for the show are $20 for reserved seats and $15 for general
admission. Tickets for children 6 years-12 years old are $10.
For more info, call Jeff Branch at (704) 985-6987, e-mail jbranch205@windstream.net, or visit
www.bluegrassintroy.com.
Sept. 20-23: Life Lessons From Mayberry: It’s All There in
Black and White in
Ridgecrest, N.C. (just outside Asheville) is a Bible study event drawing on the
biblical truths and life applications found in “The Andy Griffith Show.” To register, call Ridgecrest Conference
Center at (800) 588-7222 or visit www.lifeway.com/mayberry.
Sept. 24-27: 26th Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C. This year marks 25th Anniversary of
Mayberry Days, and also the 55th Anniversary of “The Andy Griffith Show.”
This is the BIG ONE…the granddaddy of them all. So many events, shows, Tribute
Artists, Actual TAGS Stars and concerts…to many to mention here. For info,
updates and tickets, visit www.surryarts.org .
These are just snippets from the
extensive list of events and special concerts and performances involving
Mayberry folks. All I can say is that
the actual events FAR exceeds the anticipation of going to them. Make it your mission to visit one of these
event this year.
For more complete information and ALL
of the Mayberry Events, go to the Calendar at www.imayberrycommunity.com. While there, go ahead and join up to be a
part of the iMayberry Community. ..a great interactive site hosted by webmaster Allan "Floyd" Newsome.
Thanks and Happy Motoring! See you at the events!
Thursday, March 12, 2015
You Never Know When You'll Meet a Mayberry Neighbor
For those of us who love the Andy Griffith Show…and I mean LOVE the Andy Griffith Show…we probably have some sort of Mayberry memorabilia. It might be a Mayberry coffee mug, a keychain, a hat, some of the collectible villages or plates, a book, a car license tag or tag frame, an autograph or two with pictures of the shows stars…or even a picture or autograph from the Tribute Artists. But most likely, the most popular item in the Mayberry Collection is the T-shirt. Most of us have at least one or two. I’ve either shrunk some of mine through repeated wash and dry cycles, or have just plain worn them out.
We have T-shirts for our Official TAGSRWC Chapter, shirts with the different characters and famous character quotes on them, shirts with the iconic places and stores we visit at Mayberry Days, and of course the souvenir shirts from the events we attend. Even if you don’t find yourself at any of the events, you can always visit old Ben Weaver over at Weaver’s Department Store (www.weaversdepartmentstore.com). Lots of memorabilia, hats and shirts there.
One of the things that is so much fun about being at a Mayberry Event is looking at all of the great T-shirts. Another thing I like about the Mayberry Events is this…as you think of lines from the show and throw them out, you know that everybody there pretty much gets every line you. They know who said it and may even throw a line back at you. For example if you’re walking down the street and somebody says, “Nip it”, everybody there knows what they are talking about. You are sort of “braced” for the quotes and lines. Last year at the Mayberry Days Parade, as I am walking in the parade as my Tribute Artist persona, Col. Harvey…I hear a shout from the sidewalk, “Hey Colonel…What time do the Indians eat?” Of course I had to respond in kind with, “Indians? Oh….well, they eat most anytime…6:35…7:00…7:15.”
Now it’s quite different when you are back home, going about your day to day routines. You, as huge fan, see Mayberry in lots of things and circumstances, but you don’t usually expect to hear a Mayberry line out of the blue…and I didn't...at least not until today.
This morning, as I was filling up the gas tank, I was leaning back on the side of my car, daydreaming about the day to come, waiting on the auto stop of the gas pump handle to click off, letting me know that I now had myself an “F” as opposed to having myself and “E” like when I first pulled up to the station.
Here’s where it gets good. As I finished and was racking the handle, I looked over to a guy that was also finishing his gas purchase, and gave the customary nod, as we guys do. I said something trivial like, “Gas prices were better last week. Hope they stay low.” He replied to me as he was getting in his car and about to close the door, “Yep. Depending on how many times the pump goes ‘ding.’ $2.10 a ding.” By sheer instinct I said, “Water and air is free.” He laughed, closed his car door, and drove away.
I don’t know his name. I’ve never seen him before. I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again. But this I do know…you never know when you’ll meet a Mayberry neighbor. And I wasn’t even wearing a Mayberry T-shirt. “Thanks and happy motoring!”
Have a Mayberry Day,
Keith
(aka Col. Harvey)
We have T-shirts for our Official TAGSRWC Chapter, shirts with the different characters and famous character quotes on them, shirts with the iconic places and stores we visit at Mayberry Days, and of course the souvenir shirts from the events we attend. Even if you don’t find yourself at any of the events, you can always visit old Ben Weaver over at Weaver’s Department Store (www.weaversdepartmentstore.com). Lots of memorabilia, hats and shirts there.
One of the things that is so much fun about being at a Mayberry Event is looking at all of the great T-shirts. Another thing I like about the Mayberry Events is this…as you think of lines from the show and throw them out, you know that everybody there pretty much gets every line you. They know who said it and may even throw a line back at you. For example if you’re walking down the street and somebody says, “Nip it”, everybody there knows what they are talking about. You are sort of “braced” for the quotes and lines. Last year at the Mayberry Days Parade, as I am walking in the parade as my Tribute Artist persona, Col. Harvey…I hear a shout from the sidewalk, “Hey Colonel…What time do the Indians eat?” Of course I had to respond in kind with, “Indians? Oh….well, they eat most anytime…6:35…7:00…7:15.”
Now it’s quite different when you are back home, going about your day to day routines. You, as huge fan, see Mayberry in lots of things and circumstances, but you don’t usually expect to hear a Mayberry line out of the blue…and I didn't...at least not until today.
This morning, as I was filling up the gas tank, I was leaning back on the side of my car, daydreaming about the day to come, waiting on the auto stop of the gas pump handle to click off, letting me know that I now had myself an “F” as opposed to having myself and “E” like when I first pulled up to the station.
Here’s where it gets good. As I finished and was racking the handle, I looked over to a guy that was also finishing his gas purchase, and gave the customary nod, as we guys do. I said something trivial like, “Gas prices were better last week. Hope they stay low.” He replied to me as he was getting in his car and about to close the door, “Yep. Depending on how many times the pump goes ‘ding.’ $2.10 a ding.” By sheer instinct I said, “Water and air is free.” He laughed, closed his car door, and drove away.
I don’t know his name. I’ve never seen him before. I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again. But this I do know…you never know when you’ll meet a Mayberry neighbor. And I wasn’t even wearing a Mayberry T-shirt. “Thanks and happy motoring!”
Have a Mayberry Day,
Keith
(aka Col. Harvey)
Monday, January 12, 2015
A Mayberry Cure for the Holiday Blues
I look so forward to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. All they hype, the excitement of children, the tree and house decorations, the nativity, the services at church, family and the giving. I pour a lot of my efforts into giving. I don’t necessarily focus on the monetary values in the gifts I give, but try to focus on people. How can I serve my family and friends? What acts of kindness can I do for them? How can I serve or give to total strangers or to organizations that benefit those less fortunate. How can I spread joy of the season?
In doing so, as previously mentioned, I really pour myself into projects and making others happy during this time. And after the holidays are over and we ring in a New Year…what happens? A lot of people get a little depressed…they get down on themselves and life...they get the holiday blues. And then it hit me. Why do I just have to practice giving and sacrificing myself for the good of others just during the holidays?
For me, and I bet for a good number of you, the giving is the best part of the holidays. It just makes you feel good. Remember old Ben Weaver in The Christmas Story from The Andy Griffith Show? Everybody else in town was so cheerful and happy…but not old Ben. He was determined that he was going to remain miserable, and worked hard at trying to bring others down to his level of unhappiness. On one or two occasions, Andy almost went over to the “dark side”, but fortunately, Ellie Walker was there to steer him back to a cheerful heart.
By not giving in to the negative attitude that Ben Weaver was putting out there, Andy and the crew eventually managed to force Ben into letting down his guard and “allowing” himself to be happy. The turning point was when Ben fell off the crates in the alley, and Andy went to investigate. Seeing Ben on the ground and asking him, “Ben, what in the world are you a’doin?” Then glancing over to see the overturned crates stacked up as a step up against the jail cell window, as Ben lashed back, “Aww you’re crazy. Why would I want to…?” Then Andy interrupts and asks, “Yeah…Why would you, Ben?”
In the scene that follows, Ben brings his suitcases into the jail as Andy brings him in for Disturbing the Peace. Barney is asked to inspect the contents to be sure the prisoner didn’t bring in anything illegal. When the suitcases are opened, all of the gifts he brought from his store were revealed and passed out. Although Ben gave out his gifts with a little gruff, he still did it with a cheerful heart.
What can we take from this blog and this episode? How can we fix it so we don’t feel so down after the holidays? One: be a cheerful giver all year long. Find ways to devote your time and talents to those who will not only appreciate it, but will benefit from your efforts as well. Two: Be appreciative of those in your life that “steer” you back to a cheerful heart. Three: Stay persistent in your quest to be happy. The negative people want others to be negative with them. Stay strong. Four: Be a cheerful giver all year long. Do things for people all throughout the year. Don’t be afraid to let your guard down, so others can see you for the nice person you are under your exterior persona. Giving all year will make you happier. Five: Learn to associate with positive, uplifting and fun people. Ben Weaver finally did, and it brought him a great deal of joy. You can easily associate with this kind of person if you spend any time in “Mayberry.”
So this year, decide to be happy. Decide to share your talents and time with others. Decide to finally make one of the Mayberry Events. Decide to join one of the Mayberry related Facebook Pages…there are several out there: I Miss Mayberry; Mayberry After Midnight; Mayberry, Our Favorite Hometown; and TAGSRWC “Only one word I can think of…Big” to name a few. Join some of the Mayberry websites like the iMayberry Community at www.imayberrycommunity.com I don’t have time for all that social media stuff you say. It doesn’t take that much of your time, and it’s certainly more uplifting that many of the social media sites out there. Go visit the Events Calendar and find a Mayberry Event near you. “Thanks, and Happy Motoring!”
Have a Mayberry Day,
Keith
AKA: Col. Harvey
In doing so, as previously mentioned, I really pour myself into projects and making others happy during this time. And after the holidays are over and we ring in a New Year…what happens? A lot of people get a little depressed…they get down on themselves and life...they get the holiday blues. And then it hit me. Why do I just have to practice giving and sacrificing myself for the good of others just during the holidays?
For me, and I bet for a good number of you, the giving is the best part of the holidays. It just makes you feel good. Remember old Ben Weaver in The Christmas Story from The Andy Griffith Show? Everybody else in town was so cheerful and happy…but not old Ben. He was determined that he was going to remain miserable, and worked hard at trying to bring others down to his level of unhappiness. On one or two occasions, Andy almost went over to the “dark side”, but fortunately, Ellie Walker was there to steer him back to a cheerful heart.
By not giving in to the negative attitude that Ben Weaver was putting out there, Andy and the crew eventually managed to force Ben into letting down his guard and “allowing” himself to be happy. The turning point was when Ben fell off the crates in the alley, and Andy went to investigate. Seeing Ben on the ground and asking him, “Ben, what in the world are you a’doin?” Then glancing over to see the overturned crates stacked up as a step up against the jail cell window, as Ben lashed back, “Aww you’re crazy. Why would I want to…?” Then Andy interrupts and asks, “Yeah…Why would you, Ben?”
In the scene that follows, Ben brings his suitcases into the jail as Andy brings him in for Disturbing the Peace. Barney is asked to inspect the contents to be sure the prisoner didn’t bring in anything illegal. When the suitcases are opened, all of the gifts he brought from his store were revealed and passed out. Although Ben gave out his gifts with a little gruff, he still did it with a cheerful heart.
What can we take from this blog and this episode? How can we fix it so we don’t feel so down after the holidays? One: be a cheerful giver all year long. Find ways to devote your time and talents to those who will not only appreciate it, but will benefit from your efforts as well. Two: Be appreciative of those in your life that “steer” you back to a cheerful heart. Three: Stay persistent in your quest to be happy. The negative people want others to be negative with them. Stay strong. Four: Be a cheerful giver all year long. Do things for people all throughout the year. Don’t be afraid to let your guard down, so others can see you for the nice person you are under your exterior persona. Giving all year will make you happier. Five: Learn to associate with positive, uplifting and fun people. Ben Weaver finally did, and it brought him a great deal of joy. You can easily associate with this kind of person if you spend any time in “Mayberry.”
So this year, decide to be happy. Decide to share your talents and time with others. Decide to finally make one of the Mayberry Events. Decide to join one of the Mayberry related Facebook Pages…there are several out there: I Miss Mayberry; Mayberry After Midnight; Mayberry, Our Favorite Hometown; and TAGSRWC “Only one word I can think of…Big” to name a few. Join some of the Mayberry websites like the iMayberry Community at www.imayberrycommunity.com I don’t have time for all that social media stuff you say. It doesn’t take that much of your time, and it’s certainly more uplifting that many of the social media sites out there. Go visit the Events Calendar and find a Mayberry Event near you. “Thanks, and Happy Motoring!”
Have a Mayberry Day,
Keith
AKA: Col. Harvey
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