(Toffler, 2012)
A part of my childhood has died with the death of actor George Lindsey. Lindsey is most famously known as Goober Pyle from The Andy Griffith Show and also as cousin to Gomer Pyle. For those of you not familiar with The Andy Griffith Show, it was from a time when there was still innocence in television, not the violence and sex seen today. The show was filmed in black and white during the 1960’s and portrayed the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina. It was also the starting point for director and producer Ron Howard, who played Andy’s young son Opie.
Of all the characters on the show, Goober Pyle was my favorite. Goober was the comic relief and always made me laugh. By the time The Andy Griffith Show went off the air I was only three years-old, but I grew up watching reruns. Even though we lived in a small town we were fortunate enough to have cable and I believe we got about 20 channels. This seems hard to believe considering the selection of channels available today. We found plenty of shows to watch though and didn’t miss the zillion other channels that would someday come. I was even one of the lucky ones and had my own black and white television in my bedroom.
I had a wonderful childhood and the best parents that anyone could ask for, but that doesn’t mean that I still didn’t daydream about living the perfect life in Mayberry where everyone was always happy and everyone got along. For those of you wanting to daydream about a slower, happier, and much safer time, The Andy Griffith show is available in instant streaming from Netflix and most local channels will carry it at one time or another. Sometimes if fun to just get lost in the simplicity of it all. Hey Goober, may you rest in peace with your Goober beanie and pencil pocket protector.
Reference: Toffler, E. (Photographer). (2012). George Lindsey, aka Goober Pyle, dies. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.abc3340.com/story/18157968/george-lindsey-aka-goober-pyle-dies
Michele Peterson-Rufener
Michele Peterson-Rufener is Secret Laboratory’s Home & Health Editor. Michele is a former advertising sales representative and a freelance writer; she is currently seeking a degree in marketing and is a columnist for Examiner.com. Read Michele’s blog at http://happyblonde.wordpress.com/.
Email Michele at michele@secretlaboratory.org.
