Missing Mayberry

I went to school in a town of about 500 people, with 15 kids in my graduating class. One main street, one restaurant, no stoplights, no Walmart, no movie theatre. It was a child’s paradise, I just didn’t know it at the time.

I spent my days wandering the town, walking everywhere, swimming and fishing in creeks. My brother and I walked by ourselves to the pool everyday in the summer, starting when we were probably 11. We all looked forward to getting our drivers license, so we could “drag main street”. And that’s all there was to do, just drive.

When I wasn’t dragging main street - because my parents needed the truck that they let me drive occasionally, I was walking everywhere, either by myself of with friends. No cell phones, no email, no internet. We walked and talked for hours. I walked by myself when I was bored, out to the old cemetary on quiet country roads, out to the gas station which was the closest thing to a Quik Trip that we had. Over to my grandma’s house, to bake cookies.

I had 500 parents, because everyone in that town knew me, knew my parents and wouldn’t hesitate to call them if they saw me doing something I shouldn’t. There were no strangers in my town. When I stayed out too late in the summer, hanging out on Main Street with friends, talking to the harvesters who came to town for 2 weeks in June, my dad just drove up there to get me. They always knew right where I was.

When I was a senior my parents had to move back to the nearest bigger city, for health and job related reasons. They knew I wouldn’t want to move so close to the graduation. They let me stay, my mom came back and forth on weekends as much as she could, but for all intents and purposes I was on my own that spring and summer before heading off to college. So what happened, an 18 year old on her own for the first time? Nothing. I continued to go to school, work my part time waitressing job, and drag main street. I still had 500 pair of watchful eyes on me, many whom were relatives, so my parents didn’t worry. I didn’t worry either. It was just life.

It was a blissful childhood, and I didn’t know it. I’ve only just recently began to realize it. When I had to explain to my boys that they can only ride their bikes around our own block, and I would stand on the sidewalk and wait for them, I thought of the endless hours I spent roaming my little town, with no worries. When I had to set up filters on our computers because of the danger that lurks there, I thought of how my parents were able to leave me alone for over a week at a time, with no worries.

When my son came home today and said he was afraid of going to the mid high school next year, because one of his teachers had told them that kids have brought guns to school at the mid high, I thought of my childhood in my tiny town, the one with no worries.

Back when I was 18, headed out of town to the university, I never thought I’d say this. But I do miss my Mayberry. I miss it for my kids.

Empty nest
Coming home is the best part of all
Happy birthday son

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8 Responses to “Missing Mayberry”

Ami at Writing: My Life

I can totally relate. I grew up in “Mayberry” too. I don’t have kids yet, but I still miss it sometimes. I love the city, but I love my Mayberry, too.

Sheri

I love being in the city myself, but besides the safety issues kids, I miss the peace and quiet of a small town. No traffic jams,lol.

Janis

I so agree…while my town wasn’t quite that small it was very similar. We rode our bikes or walked everywhere throughout town and boy if we did anything word was usually back to our parents before we got home! I miss that for my children too as I worry about them even going to the park by themselves that is 1/2 a block away!!!

Thanks for sharing!
Janis

Very well said and so true…

I grew up in Long Beach, CA. in a suburban track of homes. We rode our bikes everywhere and had so much more freedom. We played ditchem’ until 10:00 at night. There were dangers but they were rare.

Now with my young boys, I need to be concerned about everything. I have to keep them busy with positive things.

Mayberry didn’t have all the distractions that we have now. It was simple and down to earth. It really was about enjoying life and the people planted around us.

Lara

Hi, thanks for the comment you left on my blog a few weeks ago! I feel bad that I’m just now getting around to visiting yours!

I grew up in a city, but it wasn’t big, and back then we were still pretty free to roam. I often can’t believe what my parents let us do, because there is no way in the world I’d let my kids do that. And I live in a town that is much smaller than where I grew up. Sad how times have changed that way…I feel like I’m stealing part of my children’s childhood.

c.f.

I was just stopping by to blog the recession. I miss Mayberry and I have never lived in a small town. Now I live in a trendy, keeping up with the Jones’, type of suburb. Not the atmosphere I imagined bringing my children up in but I am trying my best. Mayberry almost sounds too good to be true, does it still exist somewhere? Great blog.Take Care.

Loralee

I don’t live in Mayberry, but it is certainly smaller than where I did grow up.

It’s a great place for my kids and I am really glad that we live here. We’ve made a lot of sacrifices to be able to do so, so it’s good to read that you liked your upbringing so much.

I hope my kids feel the same down the road.

b.q.

Thanks for your comment on our blog. I enjoyed this Mayberry post. My kids always loved hearing my “olden day” stories, & wished they had grown up in my old neighborhood. You might enjoy the book, A GIRL NAMED ZIPPY, by Haven Kimmel. It’s actually her childhood memoir. Very amusing.

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