This is a repost – I first typed the original post in Microsoft Word and just copied and pasted it into WordPress. Unfortunately this caused problems if you viewed it in Internet Explorer. Hopefully I have resolved that issue and thanks to Denise for letting me know!

This morning I was cleaning house and in between chores, checking email and drinking my coffee. Dale had Andy of Mayberry on the TV and I got interested in the show.

Lets think about the story line in Mayberry this morning.

The man who has delivered milk for years with his horse and cart, has been told he has to start driving a truck. He buys the horse from the company because he has been with her for years.

Commitment, Satisfaction in doing a job well, dependability

He goes for a short vacation and hires Opie to go out to his place and feed the horse while he is gone. Andy is hesitant to allow Opie to take the job on because he recalls the paper route that he had to complete for him. He gives Opie a chance.

Responsibility, Accountability, Active parenting

Opie goes to feed the horse in the mornings before school but the horse refuses to eat. After discussion at the barbershop, they decide that maybe the horse wants to eat in the afternoon.

Concern for a living creature, beyond what is required in a job, problem solving, relationships with community members who are the “village” it takes to raise a child.

As Opie has to mow the yard he promises a friend a quarter if he will go feed the horse. The friend gets worried the horse will die and walks him to Opie’s house. Opie hides the horse in the garage, planning to return her in the morning.

Illustration of a situation where an adult needs to be consulted

As Opie and Andy and Aunt Bea eat supper they hear what has to be the horse kicking the wall in the garage. Opie tries to keep everyone’s attention diverted but of course they go out to see what the noise is. It has been suggested that a neighbor might be building something to and Opie jumps on that saying yes he might be. Andy tells Opie “Let’s have it” and the story comes out. Aunt Bea gets involved and the next thing Andy knows, the vet is called and everyone is looking to him to fix the problem. Aunt Bea suggests that the horse is missing his owner. The vet tells Aunt Bea he may start calling her for consultations and she is pleased and embarrassed. At one point Opie reminds his dad that he didn’t really lie. Andy tells him that it is very borderline.

First of all – a family sitting down to dinner together! Second – said family having a conversation at the dinner table! A parent waiting for an explanation with the expectation that the child will have one. Aunt Bea – humility and an innate sense of right and wrong and a joy in taking care of others.

The teachable moment where the blurry difference between a lie and the borderline “truth” are pointed out.

Of course the owner returns home, the horse still won’t eat but they figure out that she is missing working and she ends up walking behind his truck everyday.

Flexibility in coming up with a solution that may not be convenient, or fit in with out modern day insurance considerations but that becomes a part of the character and history of a small community

I’m moving to Mayberry.