I’ve been exchanging emails in recent days with Benny’s mom -- a longtime Mayberry resident and reader. We’ve both been perplexed and disappointed over the direction the reader comments took after I wrote a tribute to her son, who passed away in April.
In her email to me today, she said this: One of the wonderful things about being from Mayberry is that people remember and they forgive and they love your families and they applaud your victories.
Her words moved me to tears as I thought “Oh yes!” It’s what we do best, in fact.
I was gone from Mayberry for 25 years after leaving for college. And my town lost some ground during that time in many ways. Our main street dwindled, as did our tax base; educational levels deteriorated, as did our jobs; roads and neighborhoods decayed, as did our schools.
But despite these socioeconomic erosions, the citizens of our town retained their character -- the essence that reveals what it means to live in Mayberry.
People remember: After 25 years, people remember who I am (even if I don’t remember them) and go out of their way to say “Hello Joan-Marie.”
People forgive: I was a stupid kid when I lived here before. (We all were, weren’t we?) And nobody holds it against me, though I’m certain I deserve it.
People love your families: I can’t begin to count the ways -- but here’s one. My friend, who manages the public swimming pool, told me an affirming story last week about my daughter’s behavior there. She didn’t have to pay attention to the good thing Kate was doing. And she certainly didn’t have to go out of way to tell me. But she did, and that’s loving my family like I would.
People applaud your victories: Perhaps there’s been nothing more personally affirming than the response I’ve received locally for this blog. People tell me they love it, that it makes them happy, that they look forward to reading. And here’s the thing. That’s not my victory. It’s Mayberry’s -- because first and foremost, this blog is about my lifelong love for this town and its people.
For all the same reasons Benny’s mom loves Mayberry, I do too. And I’ll never stop thinking that love works wonders if you plant it generously.
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Fair warning: No pun intended, but I don’t plan to be “fair” anymore. Leave a comment that’s ugly and you and your words will be summarily deleted. Consider me Mayberry’s street sweeper who won’t let the trash linger. This is a happy site and if you’re not happy, don’t bother coming ‘round.
