Remembering Goober

One of the hard parts about getting older is that with time you start to lose the people you grew up with, whether actual friends and relatives, or those we knew because of the parts they played in the television shows or movies we watched. When you can turn on TV Land or TBS or any one of a number of stations that show re-runs from your youth and see them as they were then, it's hard to accept that everyone grows older, and that people die.


I just found out that we recently lost George Lindsey. George was best known for playing Goober Pyle, Gomer's not-so-bright cousin, in the Andy Griffith series. Goober was always a hoot. You never knew what he was going to do or say, but you could usually count on it being rather dumb.

Although perhaps not a great intellect, Goober had great mechanical ability, and worked as a mechanic down at the filling station. He was known to wear high water pants, a wide belt, and a trademark cap that resembled that of Jughead Jones from the Archie comics. He generally had a smile and a Hey for everyone he met.



It was always fun to see Goober and his cousin Gomer get together. Jim Nabors played Gomer, who ended up enlisting in the Marine Corps, and we all know what happened there, don't we? That's a whole other show in itself.

Goober was a staple character in Mayberry, even if he had less sense than the sheriff's son, Opie (played by cute little Ron Howard, now big-time director). His ability to impress the opposite sex was less than stellar, and he could ruffle people's fur real easy sometimes. If I remember correctly, he didn't get along very well with Malcolm, the Englishman who visited Mayberry for a bit (Bernard Fox, also of Hogan's Heroes and Bewitched fame). I think he hung out with people like Floyd the barber (ever catch Eugene Levy's portrayal of him on SCTV? Priceless!), and later Emmett the Fix It guy. He and Howard Sprague were at odds, probably because Howard was a smart guy and they were just polar opposites.

Besides Andy Griffith, George was on Mayberry, RFD (the less than stellar sequel to Andy Griffith, despite starring Ken Berry of F Troop fame), and also spent many years on Hee Haw.

Although he did not attend the service, Andy Griffith sent a statement. Ray Stevens sang "Everything is Beautiful" and longtime friend Ernest Borgnine sent a video tribute. George had a lot of friends and fans, and he'll be remembered fondly.

Rest in peace, George.

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

The Submission Review

The Submission  

Author: Amy Waldman

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

American release date: August 16, 2011

Format/Genre/Length: Novel/Political/Current Events/320 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

Two years after the devastating events of September 11^th, a nation still grieves. In an attempt to offer some surcease of sorrow to the country, and to those who lost loved ones on that terrible day, a memorial has been proposed, and a blind competition held to pick the best design for the memorial. Now the jury who will make the final recommendation is down to two names, but when they choose, and realize that the winning architect is a Muslim, can they uphold this choice, or will it destroy not only them, but the memorial, and divide a grieving nation?

Synopsis:

Among the members of the jury is Claire Burwell, the sole representative of the families. She lost her husband, her two children their father. It is she who fought for the Garden design, unknowing of its origins, as being most soothing and healing to the families, as well as to the nation. Opposing her is Ariana Montagu, leaving the head of the jury, Paul Rubin, to play peacemaker and voice of reason. The design that Ariana promotes is far more bleaker than the simple, lovely garden. When Claire’s eloquence prevails, the discovery is made that the designer, Mohammad Khan, is a Muslim. Now what are they to do?

Commentary:

The Submission deals with some very important issues, questions that dig deep into the psyche of a nation. Mohammad, or Mo, as he prefers to be known, is an American, with little interest in or ties to his religion. But he resents that he is being pegged because of the fact that he was born a Muslim. When Claire presses him for answers, he refuses to give them on the grounds that the questions should not have been asked, nor would they be asked of anyone else. In that respect, The Submission reminds me of The Contender, in which a woman senator is being investigated because she has been proposed as the next Vice President of the United States. Some very race photos alleging to be of this woman, taken during her college years, have surfaced, causing quite the scandal. But when asked to confirm or deny that these photos are of her, she says she will not answer, on the grounds that were she a man, no one would have even asked the question.

Is the design suspect because proposed by a Muslim? Does that change what the design is, what it says? This was the purpose of the blind competition, was it not? To prevent the personality of the entrant to interfere with the choice of the design, as being two separate entities, and not relevant one to the other. Where does art begin and politics end? Is this a beautiful American garden? Or was it designed with Islam in mind?

The Submission is filled with memorable characters on both sides, not the least of which is Asma, whose husband died also on that terrible day. The difference in her situation and Claire’s is that Asma and her husband are from Bangladesh, and he was an illegal immigrant.

Many profound questions are explored in this tale. It is Amy Waldman’s first novel, and quite the debut. The only criticism I can make, and this is just my own opinion, is that I get no real feeling for the story, by which I mean it’s told in an almost cold, distant manner. Maybe that’s what she intended. Maybe that’s a means of keeping an objective perspective.  I’m not saying she needed to take sides, or anything of that nature. But I would have liked to have seen more warmth in the people as people.

Regardless, it’s well done, and a provocative look at the nature of America and Americans. A real eye-opener. I’d like to see what else Ms. Waldman can do.