I like Aunt Bee because she makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to bake pies and take them to sick people.
Aunt Bee is my Hollywood idol and favorite TV role model. Each evening Sam and I stay tuned after the 6 o’clock news; listening to that familiar tune and watching a smiling Andy and an eager and barefooted Opie headed to the fishing hole. But it’s Aunt Bee that I want to be.
I like everything about Aunt Bea, from her choker pearls to her desire to take care of everybody. I like Aunt Bee because she is not perfect, and every time I see her not being perfect it reminds me that nobody is. I like the way she messes up, gets caught and Andy forgives her — like the time she backed her brand new car into a tree right after Andy told her she had no business getting the car in the first place.
When Aunt Bee fudged on the truth, I wanted to scream, “Don’t do it, Aunt Bee … you’re gonna get caught.” Sooner or later, you always get caught. Aunt Bee got caught, and Andy forgave her. That’s the way it should be.
I like Aunt Bee because she makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to bake pies and take them to sick people. She makes me want to take better care of my family. She makes me want to dress up even if I have no place to go. On days that I work at home I always make sure I’m out of my PJs and rubber boots before Sam gets home. I try to dress nice and put on lip gloss and earrings.
Sam asks, “Why are you dressed up?”
“Because Aunt Bee does,” I say.
The black and white episodes of Andy Griffith are the best (1960-1965). I like the lessons Andy teaches Opie. I’m not real fond of the colorized version (1965-1968) because, for one thing, Barney Fife is not there. Barney can make me laugh for 30 minutes with just a look. There is nobody funnier than Barney Fife.
Another reason I’m not wild about the colorized version is it seems in 1965 Andy had a harder edge and less patience. He did and said things that I don’t think Andy would have done or said, like his interest in some Hollywood floozy instead of Helen. Sam and I look at each other and say, “Andy wouldn’t do that.” Andy was a good guy and a family man; the writers should have left well enough alone.
One day I was ironing Sam’s shirts when I thought, I wish I had a T-shirt that said, “Aunt Bea is my role model.” I bet Aunt Bee has a fan club or a Facebook page.
So, my dear Prairie neighbors and church folks, if you’re sick in the bed and I show up at your door wearing choker pearls and carrying some of my delicious deli chicken soup or Kroger’s rotisserie chicken, you can thank your sweet Aunt Bea.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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