Getting Older and Losing Andy Griffith!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This past week Andy Griffith died and I loved Andy Griffith.  Of course, I didn’t know him personally, but he has been in my home for years.  I was introduced to him as Sheriff Andy Taylor and I thought Mayberry, North Carolina, seemed like just about the best place in the world to grow up.  Sometimes, when they are running the Andy Griffith marathon on TV, I kid my husband about watching episode after episode, but I find myself listening for that whistle that starts the show and checking out the beginning just to see if I want to join him for the next thirty minutes.  The death of this TV icon has me feeling a little nostalgic this week because time seems like it is getting away from me.  I was a kid when we watched the original show and when I see that it first aired in 1960, I can’t believe that I am now on the other side of fifty and how all that time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.  I am sure I am not the only one who remembers sitting around the one TV we owned with most of our family, munching on the popcorn our mothers just popped, and watching so many of the shows that are now considered classics. 

 

I just spent a week at the beach with my husband’s family and on one of the really hot days; my nieces and I watched a movie and my husband popped some Jiffy Pop popcorn.  They were not nearly as impressed with the Jiffy Pop popcorn as I was, and in fact preferred dipping pretzel rods into chocolate and peanut butter they had melted in the microwave, but I was giddy with my popcorn.   I guess it was because I remembered what a treat it was when my mom would spring for the “good stuff” and I almost hardly ever got a whole one to myself.  Another aunt didn’t think my nieces were following their mother’s instructions about eating a balanced meal, but I said if their mother wanted them better supervised, she should have stayed home and the nieces and I continued to happily eat our snacks.  I guess you could say I am the aunt who lets them melt stuff in the microwave and worries about the consequences later.

 

On the way up to the beach, we stopped at IHOP for lunch and I got my first ever Senior Citizen discount.  I am not counting the time my husband and I went to the movies and the girl behind the counter rang us up as seniors without even asking.  When I saw senior on our tickets, I almost went back and showed her what an irate almost senior was capable of doing to a youngster, but my husband reminded me about the individually wrapped candies I was hiding in my sweater pocket and I didn’t think I could free up a fist, since I was already holding onto the guard rail so I didn’t fall and break a hip.  Besides, it would have been embarrassing to come back into the theater late and yell, “John, where are you? I can’t see where I am going!”   Anyway, at IHOP, my wallet won out over my pride and I looked right at the waitress and said, “I would like that from the senior menu, please,” and then was a little perturbed that she didn’t ask to see my I.D.  I feel like at my next high school class reunion, I am going to be walking around like Haley Joel Osment did in the movie, The Sixth Sense, saying, “I see old people,” to my husband.

 

Maybe Andy Griffith’s death has me feeling particularly nostalgic, because it came at a time when I was at the beach with lots of nieces and nephews, and it seems like it was just yesterday that some of these “adults” were toddling around in diapers.  My one nephew insists on playing me tennis every year.  When we first started playing, he was no bigger than the racket, but that didn’t stop me from beating him and from the way I carried on you would have thought I just put Pete Sampras in his place rather than a kid just entering first grade.  For me, what I lack in skill on the tennis court, I make up with an over exaggerated sense of self and a whole lot of trash talking.  It is what keeps my opponents coming back year after year…the strong desire to put me in my place.  Well, this year the nephew enters high school and his tennis skills have improved considerably and we both know my time as the victor is coming to a close.  He has been working on a shot called “make Aunt Laurie run by dropping the ball just over the net,” despite the fact that I have told him repeatedly the game will go longer if he hits the ball directly to me and I really prefer not to move too much.   Luckily, my saving grace, so far, has been my long arms and you would be amazed how far I can reach just so I can yell, “looks like this old lady just opened a can of whoop ass on you,”  followed by a little dance move and some serious fist pumping. Sadly, I didn't think the arms were going to save me this year, so knowing that this year could be the year he was going to beat me, I did the only mature thing I could think of and ignored his desperate pleas begging me to play tennis and instead came up with excuse after excuse why that was not going to happen.  Sometimes, with age comes wisdom.

 

In some ways at the beach, it seems as if time has stood still.  Year after year, my sister-in-law and I play a game called, “I Got You Last,” which involves the both of us slapping each other all the way to my car in an attempt to be the last one to touch the other.  The game started when she was in Fifth grade and she is now 47.  In fact, at one point, I yelled, “We need to stop playing this game. I am 55 and you are 47 and we are mature adults,” but since I ended my declaration with a hit to her body, for some odd reason she continued to hit back.  Usually, I have my husband hold her while I get in the car and lock the door and then I continue to scream, "Got you last, loser!" and if he ever seems to be reluctant to help me, I always threaten to withhold human affection and other things that he holds dear, but this year my sister-in-law and I both noticed that my threat seemed less effective than in years past. It was only after I played my trump card and added that we had a nine-hour drive ahead of us and I was feeling particularly chatty, IF he didn’t hold his sister back, that he jumped right on board. 

 

Normally, I don’t run around all day saying, “I’m getting so old,” mostly because I am too busy looking for my car keys, my eye glasses, or my cell phone, but I thought it a lot this week.  I thought it when I said goodbye to the nephew we started calling, “Little John,” when he was three, so “Big John,” (my DH) didn’t get confused every time we said, “John, go potty before we go to the beach.” Now, Little John is taller than Big John and off to college in the fall.  He also has stopped saying he wants to ride in the car with Big John, and adding, “but her can’t come,” pointing his little finger in my direction as he hopped into the back seat.  We still laugh about that one.  Don’t worry, though, I’ll get over this feeling and file my thoughts back into the part of my brain I like to call my, “Denial and Avoidance,” file.  The age file goes somewhere in front of the weight file.  I knew Andy Griffith was getting older.  After all, I have a mother who watches Matlock every morning and God help the person who calls her during the show.  It is just that for me Andy Griffith will forever be Sheriff Andy Taylor and a part of me will always be that little girl who loved watching that show.

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

BG, Thanks! Nothing like great buttered popcorn. It is the main reason I love to go to the movies :) LOL  What a perfect slogan posted on FB. I honestly think my little firecracker of a sister-in-law would find a way to jump on that boat. She can be very feisty :) Plus, she is very quick....LOL!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

How much do I owe  you?   I actually had a better day after I read this blog this morning. Lately, everything aches.  For months.  The age thing... well I am full of what ifs, what should I have done different, out of time, tossing and turning, my last this, my never that............ Oh geesh.   So much so, I forget to enjoy the days I have. 

When I was young, I never wanted to live in the good ol' days like the ol' boring fogys did.  I just wanted to spring on through life. I was full of energy.  I thought simple was just too simple.  But now, it is so enjoyable to remember the slower times.  Rather refreshing  :)

Andy, was the good ol' days.  Glad to have you back. 

[BG and Gavin]

Very enjoyable blog Laurie!   Last night I made popcorn (popped it in a pan with oil, shaking it gently over the gas flame of the stove) with real melted butter.  I have not made it in years and years but had a sudden craving last week so bought some real popping corn at the grocery store.

Last week on FB someone posted "The world could use a little more Mayberry and a little less Jersey Shore."  That made me nod an smile.

Have you ever thought about playing "touched you last" on the pontoon boat?  You could have the lines untied and ready to go, tag your sister on the dock, jump on the boat and have your DH hit the throttle.  You could leave her standing on the dock!  Wouldn't that be a hoot?!?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Cyndi, Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

Deanna, I know exactly how you feel :) Actually, I am always up for a discount....LOL!!

Camilla, My daughter used to get asked about her age all the time. We once went on a bus trip and they asked her if she was skipping school and she was in college :) Enjoy it while it lasts....LOL!! Knock it off with the cell phone, internet jokes....or else....LOL!!! We all know you are VERY young...haha!

Sharon, I think those shows made us all want to live there :) I think the others are right...there has to be an up side to getting old...so I will take those discounts.

Margaret, You are a senior at IHOP :) LOL I loved My Three Sons and did see that Don Grady died. He was the one I had a crush on and it was very sad news.

Nancie, Thank you for the welcome back, although I was checking on all of you during vacation. My nieces just shake their heads. The dogs did great with my DD and were very happy to see us. It made coming home all the sweeter. We do not have Jack in the Box, but I am definitely going to find out where I am considered a senior...LOL!!

Doris, Thank you! Yes, Doris, I am very competitive, but that particular nephew brings out the worst in me :) It is all his fault, not mine...LOL!!

Jane, Thank you! I feel the same way each day when I wake up and I savor every minute of my day :)

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

Andy always reminded me of my dad.  They had the same dark hair, similar build and quiet way of making their point without raising their voice.  Andy's passing made me think of my childhood and more simple times. Both are missed.  RIP Andy (and Barney and Goober).

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Sheriff Andy and now McHale!!!  With the passing of every "classic", I feel like I move closer and closer to being a classic myself!  Time is whizzing by - and now with my granddaughter growing like a weed, I'm reminded constantly of just how fast time flies!!

Senior discounts?  Absolutely!  There has to be some benefit to being old!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

OMD...another one just bit the dust!!  Ernest Borgnine of McHale's Navy died today!  Boy time is flying by a bit too fast for me...!!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I loved this post! I can relate but in a different way, as I am more on the opposite end. A measly 10 years ago I was using a 12 and under child's discount. That is scary to me! I went into a dress store a couple of months ago and someone asked me if I was going to prom. It's times like those that I feel like I'm faking being a grown up. Like no matter how much I try to be responsible, educated, and maybe boring, I can't get away from being an ignorant little kid. Perhaps I'm too anxious to grow up. :-) 

I LOVE feeling nostalgic and reminiscing in old memories. When I was a teen the big things were cell phones, the internet, and boys sagging their pants. Oh wait... he he. :-)

[Sharon & Monty]

Oh man nostalgia.  I LOVED ANDY GRIFFITH!!  I SO WANTED TO LIVE THERE!  I also wanted to be a family member of Father Knows Best or better yet, Leave it to Beaver.  I thought for a time that WAS how all families were and mine was certainly coming up short! Thanks for the memories Andy.  As for senior citizen discount, count me out! AARP can wait.

[Margaret & Pebbles]

I enjoyed this blog Laurie except for one thing.....your 55 and you get a senior discount?  I'll be 56 in September and never knew this!  Now I really feel old!  Is it just certain places that offer us "young seniors" a discount??

I just loved Andy Griffith show, I watched a few of them yesterday on TV Land.  Remember My Three Sons?  I record that 5 days a week, for around the last 3 months.  About a week and a half ago Don Grady who played Robbie Douglas died of cancer.  Seeing I watch the show everyday, I feel so sad about his death.