Sometimes it's not until I slow down that the stress, worry and emotions catch up with me. I can stay busy and keep all my "plates" spinning in the air and not have too much extra time to think...but that all caught up with me this weekend.Friday after I got off work at the school, I went and showed houses until dark. Saturday, I was out doing more of the same (in the cold!) and my young couple finally decided to write an offer on a home we had seen the night before. After a busy afternoon, hubby and I ate dinner out and then came home to just relax and do nothing! I got my jammies on, turned my electric blanket on "high" and settled in to find something good on t.v. Have you ever tried to find something good on t.v. on a Saturday night? Gee whiz! There is nothing good on! What's the deal? Does everybody go out on Saturdays?
Anyway, we can always find something decent on TV Land (classic tv), and such was the case as Andy Griffith was on. It was one of my favorite episodes--where Opie accidentally kills the mama bird with his slingshot which leaves the baby birds with no one to feed them. After Andy opens Opie's window and makes him listen to those baby birds crying all night (ahhh, such torture Pa!), Opie decides he's going to care for the baby birds. Fast forward--the birds are healthy and out-growing the cage and Andy is telling Opie he needs to set them free. Opie asks his Pa, "but how do I know I've done all the right things and they'll be able to fly?"
FLOODGATES OPEN! Oh my word! I started bawling my eyes out (and if truth be told, I've got a puddle of tears on my desk right now just typing this). I've seen that episode a million times, but this time it was different. I was Opie--I could so relate to that sweet little guy not wanting to open the door to the cage. But he finally does and the birds fly away singing up to the trees.
And Opie says, "The cage sure looks awful empty, don't it Pa?"
And Opie says, "The cage sure looks awful empty, don't it Pa?"
To which Andy replies, "Yes son, it sure does...But don't the trees seem nice and full?"
11 sweet friends had to say...:
That show helped me threw a really ugly break up. Barney Fife was talking to Andy and he said "Well Andy, it's therapetic". It made me laugh sooooo hard for the first time in weeks.
My twelve-year-old moved up to the Youth Group from the regular Sunday School last June, but yesterday at church was the first time he asked to sit with the youth group during service rather than sitting with me...sob. He usually sits next to me and leans on my shoulder, and when we are standing to sing, he stands in front of me and grabs my arms and wraps them around himself.
Yesterday, he just looked at me and said, "I want to go sit with the youth group today." I said, "sure, go ahead." But in my heart I was holding that cage door shut!
Oh, I love that episode of Andy; well I love every episode!! I understand :) I have an almost 21 year old fixing to graduate from college and she is so independent (which I'm glad ?!? right?!?) I do feel proud though; she's fixing to fly further!
Ok...now you have my flood gates flooding!! OH! Andy and little Opie...there is something about those 2 that can just make your heart sing or sink and your eyes glaze over with tears...I know what you are talking about and I know how you feel...but all birds are made to fly...and as the mama bird we usually are the first to nudge them to do it...Dadburnit!! But...I PROMISE...you will have many, many more and great memories to hang on to...and you will so ENJOY this next season in Zacks life and yours...REALLY!! But...for now...just take time to "feel" it all...it really does help!
Blessings...
Teresa
I LOVE that episode, too! Is there anyone who has every said "Paw" like Opie? I think that show should be required watching for every new mom and dad!
Oh, Tracey, I just love your mother's heart. I can SO relate. I've told you before how much I cried before Lisa left for college. Another reason our "cage" seemed so empty was that we had had a sibling group of three little foster children for a year-and-a-half, and they left in July '92, then a month later Lisa left for college. In a month's time our house went from 6 children to 2.
Zach is so fortunate to have you for his mom.
I love that show and watch it frequently. I have seen every episode more than once. That show about the birds is the most touching and, as you quoted, the very end when Andy says "don't the trees seem full" just touches my heart. Sort of like raising kids and we finally have to let them go.
That was a good episode. Isn't it funny how the meanings of TV shows sometimes change as we change, or arrive at different stages of our lives?
You will both make it and be okey. And its alright to feel the emotions you are feeling now. Don't try and suppress them.
Susan
I have that series on DVD. My son is getting married in a few months and then we are off to live in Paraguay.
Oh I absolutely love that episode. You almost started me crying just reading your post. . . and I'm not much of a crier. Why is it those "old" shows can really tug at our heart strings?
~Cheryl
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