—Mt. Airy – Day 2 – The Meet Up—
It’s a quarter past eleven, and I am just getting back into my room from the “Mayberry Meet-Up.” (Day 1)
I honestly do not have the vocabulary to paint a proper picture of the time I had tonight.
Around 6 PM, Aunt Claudine, Shirley, and I made our way to the pavilion.
Many people were already there and talking to one another, so we jumped right in and introduced ourselves.
I did get to meet Mr. Allan Newsome.
He is a “Tribute Artist” and does a really good impression of “Floyd the Barber.”
Allan and his wife Jan are wonderful people.
I had my Aunt Claudine take a picture of Allan and me together.
—I’ll tell you a secret, though. I will have to get another picture of Allan and me together because my Dear Aunt Claudine actually did not take a picture of us. She thinks she did, though. But really, she didn’t. (I guess she didn’t know how to use the camera on my phone.)
And I don’t want to tell her. It’d break her heart.
So, tomorrow, I’m going to have to get someone to take a picture of Allan and me together so I can pass that picture off as the one my Aunt Claudine took. I digress.
I met many other wonderful people tonight and listened to many “Tribute Artists” tell incredible stories about themselves and stories about the actors from TAGS.
One man who spoke tonight once worked security detail for Don Knotts. (Barney Fife)
Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling) even called in on someone’s cell phone, and they were able to put her on speakerphone and have her talk to us. She sounded like a lovely person.
As it grew dark, everyone got their lawn chairs out and found a spot to sit and watch TAGS under the stars.
As an episode began playing, I looked around and saw people from all over America sitting together watching “The Andy Griffith Show.”
I wish I could adequately describe the feeling of excitement and love that I felt tonight, but I can’t.
It was something magical.
…And I don’t think I’ll ever be able to put it into words.
I can’t wait for tomorrow night.
Love you,
–Lynn
PS – This is where I would have put the picture of Allan and me…
(Don’t tell my Aunt Claudine)
