Meet me at the Fishin’ Hole

RIP, Ange.

My mom texted me the news. I wasn’t really surprised. I have sort of expected it all along.

Later I got an email from my sister confirming the news that Andy Griffith had died.

I immediately thought of my friend, Ed, who is the biggest fan of that show that I know.

Like so many others in my generation, we grew up watching countless re-run after re-run of that wonderful show. Many of my Facebook friends must’ve also been tuned in because there were so many status updates dedicated to Andy tonight.

I guess if you’re Southern, it’s hard NOT to love it.

Ed and I frequently quote lines from our favorite episodes back and forth to each other. On in particular came during one of those priceless exchanges from Andy and Barney (from the episode “Dogs, Dogs, Dogs” - you can see the priceless exchange in this clip just past the 40 second mark).

Andy tells him something might not happen. Barney agrees but then counters that it might. Andy agrees that it might. But then Barney counters it might not.

I can’t tell you how many times Ed and I have done that routine in our emails or in person.

Millions of other Americans probably have their own Andy Griffith show memories. That just happens to be one that he and I do. We have others – like identifying something as a comPELSION (as Barney said). Or, we talk about inARCulations (again, another Barneyism - from another of my favorite episodes, “One Punch Opie”).

Gosh, I can’t tell you how many of these routines have found their way into our conversations over the years.

I also can’t tell you how many times he (or I) approached a touchy parenting situation with a touch of Andyism. I probably slipped into a bit of an ‘Ange’ when I was coaching baseball or serving as league President. Fortunately, I never had to make an umpire’s call at home plate as Andy did in “The Ballgame.”

The bottom line for people my age is that this is one of the shows we grew up on. Our childhood is built on the foundations of those great 60s television shows that entertained us after school or on hot summer days like this one.

For years, Ed and I have talked about all the great 60s actors who have passed away one by one – Gilligan, the Skipper and the Howells; the various Batman villains. And recently there was Robbie from My Three Sons and Goober from the Andy Griffith Show.

And now, one of the biggest of them all.

I’m sure there will be countless tributes to Andy Griffith throughout the week; I just wanted to be one small voice in the chorus.

JG

Originally posted 7/3/2012