"I'm a little late here, but I'm glad you're better. Don't be afraid to try that Peterson kid when you aren't getting anywhere with the doctor. He's a whiz at removing tonsils anyway."
Still Mourning the Passing of Andy Griffith 2 Weeks Later
Upon hearing the news of the passing of Don Knotts, I was deeply saddened for about a day. But news of the passing of Andy Griffith is still like a punch in the stomach, 2 weeks after hearing of it. Why is this? What, exactly, was it about the man and the character of Andy Taylor that resonates so deeply with so many people? And has there ever been a man, a character, like this who can be compared to Andy Griffith? I tend to believe he truly was one of a kind and that we will never, ever see the likes of Andy Griffith again. Thoughts...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sandra Sils on -
For me, it has to do with the believability of the characters on the show. Watching made you feel like you were part of the "town" and Andy was your neighbor. No other show comes across like that for me. I am totally disgusted by the vulgarity of the new shows that are on and like to be able to escape to Mayberry for a respite to my spirit.
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Permalink Reply by Mr. McBeevee on
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For us fans, Mayberry is a place where we live. It is a place we cherish and would like to have a real world place just like it to live , work and play. Like Barney said in the show where the lady reporter took advantage of him, Andy was a friend of all of the poeple in Mayberry and I think we, the people who live in Mayberry, share that sentiment. He as well as others have truely become our friends over the years and I think for those of us who grew up with the show from the original air dates till now, feel a little bit of our own mortality as we witness the passing of these great characters we seemed to have gotten to know them so well.
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Permalink Reply by kathy jo hufstetler on
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Hey John, I could not agree with you more. It seems so strange to have such a connection with some one I have never met, but this has been a sad time for me and others as well. We all knew it would happen, him being older and all but still it kind of seemed that he would be around for a lot longer. I kind of felt as though I knew him personally. He made such an impression through TAGS. It is nice to be able to talk about our loss with others here in the community. Most people don't really understand. Thanks for posting.
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Permalink Reply by Trey Miller on -
I think its because Andy was like a family member to us. We all have invited him into our homes day in and day out, so he is a part of our lives, the part where for 30 minutes a day we can escape and just laugh and have a good time in Mayberry. Andy has always been my favorite on the show, he was the character I would want to hang out and become friends with. Yes, Don Knotts was awesome as Barney! George Lindsey and Jim Nabors were great as Goober and Gomer. Howard McNear , Francis Bavier , and Ron Howard were amazing at their characters too, but Andy is the one we loved, the character we probably most relate to..He reminded some of you of your dad, or good friend, or the Sheriff, teacher, doctor, important figure who you respected in your town..As he aged and started to look older the last few years, he reminded some of you of your grandfather or old man you could not help but love and speak to. Andy Griffith like many articles now are saying was a Treasure, and boy did he make this world a little better for you and myself to live in with his work.. No, no one will ever match Andy with talent, charisma, and that friendly personality who could make us laugh with joke about a football game, romeo and juliet, singing crawdad hole, or a deputy who could not keep a bullet in his gun...but wouldn't it be great if they did!
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Permalink Reply by Sandra Sils on
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Don't forget walking down the the fillin' station for a bottle of pop...maybe a Huckleberry Smash!
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Permalink Reply by Jody Bailey Day on -
It is hard to grasp. Andy Griffith has been a backdrop somewhere my whole life. He reminds me of my daddy. People loved each other in Mayberry, and that is so lacking now.
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Permalink Reply by JD on
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If your Dad was like Andy Griffith/Taylor, consider yourself to be very, very fortunate.
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Permalink Reply by Jody Bailey Day on
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I do. The funny thing is that when Daddy was mad or off kilter at all, he was very much like Barney.
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The conclusion to my own post is, I think, quite simple. Have given this some deal of thought, and here it is. Griffith created a character in Andy Taylor who we all aspire to be. And just as importantly, we would like all other people we come across in our lives to be more like Andy Taylor. Think of all the jerks you have come across over the years who you would wish were more like Andy Taylor. How many other characters in the history of any medium, not just tv, that you can say that about? Very, very short list, if a list at all. He followed the Golden Rule, he treated everybody with dignity and respect, he loved his child enough to discipline his child, he never belittled anybody, he was slow to anger, and you know what else? The man was almost always smiling! As Abe Lincoln said, he represents the Better Angels of Our Nature. Thanks, Andy. Meet you on the front porch someday.
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Permalink Reply by Scott Frederickson on
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I still feel the loss like you. Here we are two weeks from his passing, and I had one of my coworkers ask me how I'm doing after Andy's passing. It's funny how I apparently have brought up Andy in everyday conversation at my work over the past 25 years. There is such a void in my heart, but I truly know that he's no longer in any pain, and is bringing happiness and joy to not only the other cast members that are in heaven, but also all others. I think about my relatives in heaven, and am somewhat jealous that they are there enjoying Andy. How cool is that.
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Permalink Reply by Keevy Hazelton on -
When I was 8, I came from Ohio to Virginia to live with my father who had settled there after my parents divorced. It was great, as we lived a block away from a big amusement park which I frequented so often I sort of became a mascot there, doing small jobs and running errands for the help in exchange for free rides and tips. It was a kid's dream. Then after about 3 years of Heaven, my dad thought it was too much of a good thing and started taking me to western NC for the summer, where he was from, leaving me there and returning to pick me up in time for school to start in September. I absolutely hated it! I stayed with my grandmother who lived so far out in the country you couldn't even see another house. Instead of riding the roller coaster back home, the big attraction there on Saturday nights was to hang around the little country store and drink pop, kick dirt and chew the fat.
Then a funny thing happened. After the third summer, I actually started looking forward to going. The town was only about 30 miles from Mt. Airy and I had many relatives there who were very much like the folks you see on TAGS, and lived their lives in the same fashion. I started to really enjoy the simple pleasures of that lifestyle- setting on the porch till way past dark, visiting folks after supper, gathering at the little store on Saturday nights and running around with my cousins. Watching TAGS brings back those pleasant memories for me.
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Keevy, thanks for sharing your story with us. How cool to experience that life as a kid.
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