"Oh, Pa! Can't I Just Look at the Pretty Man?"

Please note: This is NOT an ad for the American Cancer Society.

One of the earliest television shows I ever remember watching and loving as a child was The Andy Griffith Show. Today, it remains one of my very favorites. No matter how many times I've seen some episodes, I still smile and get that same warm and fuzzy feeling. Thankfully, Mark is a big fan and we have two children who adore it, as well. I'm even blessed to have dear friends who are AG Show fans. Chelsea and one of her best girlfriends, Rebekah, have enjoyed Andy Griffith marathons into the wee hours of the night.

I believe we all get why folks find themselves so enchanted by Mayberry and its fictional inhabitants. The tie that binds here seems to be that we can all relate to a show made up of a group of sweet mountain people who appreciate good company, good food and good morals. Okay, so maybe Otis didn't always take to the moral high ground but I always thought he was lovable in his own way. My family enjoys the heck out of high-strung Barney; pretty and precious Thelma Lou; hand-wringin' worrywort Aunt Bee; cute as a bug's ear, freckle-faced Opie; crazy as a hoot owl Ernest T. Bass ("he's a nut!"); sweet and naive Gomer; daffy Floyd, the barber; those bluegrass lovin' Darlins and a host of other enjoyable characters.

And then...then there was Andy. *swoon* Back in the day - when men were men and women were women - I would've given ol' Miss Crump a run for her money! Sheriff Andy Taylor was a fine lookin', downhome daddy and widower just full of country smarts. I ask you, what's not to love? Well, some might say he was sure terrific except for one glaring fault. Andy was a smoker. I must admit that I've never really minded his affinity for cigarettes. I always figured Andy was an adult making an adult decision. Sure, on the inside, his lungs might've been grossly charred with tar and nicotine but on the outside, he was a veritable hunk of manly manhood! So yes, I've pretty much always thought Andy quite sexy in his little lawman's uniform, puffin' away on those cigarettes. For me, he ranks right up there with The Marlboro Man, Don Johnson, Sam Elliot and Tom Selleck. Alright, I'll stop right there before I throw myself into a tizzy. *wink*

(For the record, smoking is definitely not my cup of sweet tea. I've smoked the sum total of one and a half cigarettes in my 38 years and that was more than enough for me. I don't like smoking BUT if you're an adult and I don't have to share the same room with you as you smoke, I have no desire to infringe upon your freedom. What's that saying? Smoke 'em if you've got 'em.)

Be prepared to take more trips with me down Memory Lane to Mayberry and to other quaint little villages of vintage television on An Ozarks Family!