Yesterday I learned that the actor, Don Knotts, passed away and I was, and still am, saddened.
In this blog I've often written about Mayberry and for forty years I've watched and loved The Andy Griffith Show, due in large part to Don Knott's hilarious Barney Fife.
Last night I watched one of my favorite 'Barney episodes', one called The Song Festers. It's where, upon a dark, silent stage, Barney softly, tearfully sings part of Santa Lucia after he'd been asked to bow out of performing his solo. On a good day that episode makes me cry. On the day when I heard about the passing of Don Knotts, well, the tears came from a deeper place.
Few things in this life can be said to be perfect. But Knotts' Barney Fife was one of those few things. No one else could have played Barney, no one upon this planet. No one.
But then, no one else could play you or me, either.
No one else can teach the lessons you teach or touch others in the same way. There is a sense of perfection in that, too. And I hope you have found it.
I was going to title this post Farewell Barney Fife and yet Barney will always be here on film. I will keep Mr. Fife upon my shelves and when I need to be reminded of a place like Mayberry and how good life can really be, I'll slip The Andy Griffith Show into my dvd player and Deputy Barney Fife will live again.
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