Mayberry or Raleigh?

I'd take Mayberry, because eventually, if I tried hard enough, I sincerely believe that I could get into Helen's pants.

You know, Gustav, I could never figure out Andy's attraction for Helen. Far be it from me to ever use the B-word, but she always seemed rather ... unforgiving. None of us will ever know what actually went on up at Myer's Lake, but I'm guessing if Andy ever explored that particular item of Helen's clothing, he'd probably discover a week's supply of dry ice.

So, whatever happened to Ellie the pharmacist? Nice girl with a good job (female pharmacist in 1961?!) and she always gave Opie free ice cream. So what went wrong there?

Did Helen put out a contract on her?

Or ... did Ellie run off to the bright lights of Raleigh?

When i lived in North Carolina, the streets and traffic in Raleigh were a nightmare. I prefer the country to the city, anyway . . . i'll take Mayberry.

You are such a bumpkin for so much a smartzguy.

Raleigh always seemed cold and impersonal, while - well, Aint Bee and Goober just made me feel comfortable and amiable.

Bumpkin pie is my favorite . . .

Nothing goes better with bumpkin pie than a tall glass of redneck soda ... just a couple of life's indulgences.

Years ago I went to Clifton Forge Virginia to visit a friend. The police station and jail was across the street from my hotel. I went over to the police station for directions, by the looks of things in there, I expected to see Andy, Barney and the rest of the Mayberry!

I pick Mayberry; life was more laid back then.

In North Carolina and throughout the South, a form of cream soda which is red in color is very popular, and is usually referred to as "red pop."

I don't know guys. The chances, while staying in Mayberry, of running into this entire administration, seem rather high. Deputy Barnie Feith, etc. Of course, we'd have a new town-drunk.

I'd pick Mayberry too.

Mostly because the Darlin' family lived there and I enjoy a good hootenanny.

(As long as they don't play "Salty Dog" 'cause thatun makes me cry.)

Can we toss in Dayton Ohio in 1903 as an option?



courtesy of His Geniusness, Randy Newman

Setanta: Red cream soda actually is one of my favorites (Barq's I think) ... just when you think they can't possibly cram more sugar and corn syrup into a soft drink, they do and dye it red to boot.

Once on a thread on a website recently deceased, someone was trying to insult me by asking how much manure I'd shoveled down on the farm that day. They just didn't get it. I actually aspire to bumpkinhood and would enjoy nothing more than mindless poop-shoveling, etc. In a weird way, I am trying to create my own Mayberry (and I'm pretty darned close to succeeding) and just wondered if anyone else was traveling that road.

Blatham: Dayton, Ohio in 1903 or just about any other place in that time period would do it for me.

Boomerang: You know, the Darlin's and Ernest T episodes are about the only ones I don't enjoy watching again and again. Probably something about that breakdown of law and order throwing a wrinkle into my nice, orderly escape world that just doesn't do it for me. I guess when Ernest & Co. come to town I'd just have to head off to Raleigh to catch some cul-chah. (I always tell my wife our next dog will be a male basset hound and his name WILL be Ernest T Basset ... )

BTW, as my screenname here seems to be unchangeable, I guess we can discuss the Oreo's in your pantry openly and honestly like other consenting adults do.

none of you guys know **** for shinola...first of all the sweet red soda you refer to is Cheeriwine....proudly bottled in the Winston-Salem /High Point area

Ellie the pharmacist is the biggest Eckerd Pharmacy franchise holder in the country and lives just a few miles down the road from me in a gated community....she also, although it is not as well know, owns Thee Doll House and has a vested interest in Pure Gold over in Cary.....where she allows Helen Frump....I mean Crump to still dance the occasional amateur night.

Raleigh is still as it ever was, the vacation destination of choice for Deputy Fife, whose corner room at the Y has three escort services on the speed dial on his room phone. Just last week on his way to Garner for a night out at "Juanitas' Silver Diner and Karaoke Bar" he had Floyd flown in by helicopter for a quick trim on thr RDU International tarmac.

Here in the Triangle we also own the ACC, although we do allow certain out of state schools to feel as if they belong so they'll continue to spend money here.

We are the crown jewel of the Tar Heel State and perhaps the entire South, and we are home to the next Vice President of these United States so please, a little decorum here.....

Ooops! I forgot about the home of the next Vice President of these United States...I guess Raleigh is better than Mayberry.

By the way, what ever happened to the big city of Mount Pilot?

actually colorbook there is a real Pilot Mountain NC...it's North of Winston Salem on 52.......

At last the voice of authority ... man, if having Barney Fife as a regular john wouldn't set you on the road to nunhood (sisterhood?) what would?

Yeah, I can picture Helen dancing on amateur night. Wasn't she the original choice for the lead in "Mr. Goodbar"?

I never had Cheeriwine, but if it puts your pancreas into overdrive, it must be good. And I don't think Floyd can muster a quick anything anymore, can he? His last few seasons involved trick photography to hide that stroke-paralyzed arm ... but then, wait a minute ... strokes, politics, tarmacs???? ... we're getting way too close to reality and that's just not allowed in Mayberry ... I'm heading over to Miss Edwards' to try her award-winning pickles.

(I DID see Pilot Mountain on Rt. 52 on my way through there last year ... made the world seem okay for a while, too.)

I feel very Mrs. Robinson with Oreos in my pantry!

I had dinner last week with a couple from Greensboro. They had moved there from London and they had nothing but praise for N.C.