I Am Mayberry Fortunate
One often speaks of how fortunate they are to have this or that, or fortunate to have a particular experience...and so on and so forth.
Mayberry Days 2016 has come and gone...and it was fantastic. Many of us took souvenirs away from the weekend. I came away with a new appreciation for these events. I attend Mayberry events across the Southeast and Midwest, and am lucky enough to participate as a Tribute Artist portraying Col. Harvey, "Aunt Bee's Medicine Man" ...and I count myself fortunate.
But I want to reflect on what I think it means to appreciate this good fortune. Spending time with my Tribute Artist friends, I appreciate the time spent with them interacting with the many wonderful Mayberry fans. We visit a good bit, eat meals together often, and work on and off the stage to hopefully bring a little joy to folks as we recreate memories from the Andy Griffith Show...and there is an abundance of love and respect for each other.
I appreciate the wonderful people whom I've met at all of the events, as well as the tireless efforts of the organizers. I've been able to forge new friendships that I will cherish forever. I've become friends through social media venues and now have a bond with these folks that comes to life as we get to say hello, shake hands or hug each other's neck when we meet at Mayberry events.
I appreciate my good fortune when I meet so many of the real stars from the Andy Griffith Show. I think at last count I had met about 25 of the folks that have either appeared on the show or worked on the set as directors, producers and the like.
I appreciate how fortunate I am to have a wife and family that not only love the show, but put up with my somewhat "elevated enthusiasm" about the whole Mayberry experience. The family, along with some great friends, are either super "supportive" or super "tolerant" (haha)...either way, I am fortunate.
With none of us being guaranteed tomorrow, I for one want all of us to reflect on how fortunate we are to have experienced watching the Andy Griffith Show; to have encountered Mayberry stars at the events; to have made new long-lasting friendships along the way; to have enjoyed wholesome fun with a right moral compass in the values taught by the show; and to have had a chance to travel and see places with our families.
In my reflection of how fortunate I have been with my Mayberry ventures, I don't ever want to loose sight of the blessing, and certainly don't want to allow the normalcy of life to make me numb to the wonderful blessings in life.
No matter if it's Mayberry, or another passion you have...stop and realize your own good fortune. So for the friends, the fun, the laughs and the joy it brings us. I say to you, "I am Mayberry Fortunate." What about you?
Have a Mayberry Day,
Keith (Col. Harvey) Brown
