As a child of the 1960s, I grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show on television and loved each and every episode and each and every character.

My mother would tell me that “Aunt Bea” reminded her a lot of her own mother, Florence Appleby, a woman who died nine years before I was born.

In September 2010, my husband and I finally made it to Mount Airy where I visited the “original Mayberry.” It was delightful to see a town built up around the legend of “Andy Taylor.”

It’s not surprising that, in his retirement, Andy Griffith returned to North Carolina. In fact, he settled in Manteo, about 100 miles south of Norfolk. In 2000, Andy Griffith came to Norfolk’s Sentara Hospital to have heart surgery. He came into town via ambulance (from Manteo) and used a pseudonym. It’s said that he was concerned about becoming “uninsurable” (a real problem as an actor), if people found out about his heart troubles.

Apparently, it was not a problem for him.  In 2007, he landed a role in one of my favorite movies, Waitress.”

Throughout the decades, The Andy Griffith Show has remained my favorite television sitcom – period. Nothing else even comes close.

Rest in peace, Andy.

While in Mt. Airy, we visited the Andy Griffith museum. In front of the museum is this delightful solid-bronze statue.

*

Andy's boyhood home is in Mt. Airy and is available for rental.

*

Sometimes people forget that it is a rental now.

*

In downtown Mt. Airy, you'll see Andy's Galaxy 500 parked outside the cafe.

*

Pilot Mountain is not far from Mt. Airy and is incredibly beautiful. On the show, it was called, "Mount Pilot."

*

To learn more about Andy Griffith, click here.

To read the next blog, click here.

*   *   *