Happy Birthday!

I can now officially eat off of the 55+ menus at Frisches and Bob Evans. I am closer to 60 than 50. I am closer to retirement than than I was :) I am wiser (I hope), more confident (I think) and closer to heaven (I'm sure). Getting older just means I've wracked up more experiences to draw from, met more interesting people and lived more life.

I've set a goal as I turned 55. To finish the novel I'm writing and get it published before I hit 60. So here I go-on to the next great wave.

Happy Birthday!

Mayberry's Andy

Rarely does a character crawl into the imagination and linger for a lifetime.

Last week, we lost a television icon. One who enriched my life with wisdom and humor. Andy Griffith lived a long life that he shared with the world. As Opie's dad he taught us how to parent, as Barney's friend, he showed us to be accepting and tolerant, as Mayberry's town sheriff he taught fairness and compassion. The one thing I loved most about Andy and his friends was that I could invite them into my living room and enjoy the camaraderie no matter how my day unfolded. They added a bright spot and made me laugh. I'll not long forget the funny stories and even the little white lies Andy told to make everything work out.

So I say thanks to the writers who inspired the show and the warmth that still exudes from every episode. Thanks to Andy for giving us a character enveloped in goodness. While his loved ones will miss him, he lives on in the hearts of his fans and the reruns that will hopefully continue to roll on in to a new generation.