Just Sit Right Back . . .

OK, folks, let's talk about something a little less heavy -- a lot less heavy -- today.

I guess every generation of parents bemoans the fact that their children are not having some of the wonderful experiences that they had. I have tried very hard not to give the standard "I walked a mile to school uphill" genre of speeches but sometimes just can't help it.

Here is something, however, that I am confident my children are less enriched because of their lack of: TV Theme Songs!

Any of you reading this, if you are anywhere near middle age, all I have to say is "Beverly Hillbillies" and you will immediately start humming, at least in your mind, "Come and listen to my story about a man named Jed, a poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed . . . " Don't try to deny it; you know every word and you can see Granny waving at the end when they're singing "Y'all come back now, ya hear?"

And how about "Come ride the little train that is rolling down the tracks the the junction?" Loved it and loved those pretty girls swimming in the water tower in a pre-Global Warming world where I didn't worry about contamination of Hooterville's water supply. And business never seemed too good at the Shady Rest but somehow Kate and Uncle Joe made ends meet with proceeds from the occasional customer who got off the Cannonball.

Speaking of Hooterville, things were never the same after Oliver and Lisa Douglas hit town and bought the Haney place ("Green Acres is the place to be; Farm living is the life for me . . . "). I still can't believe Lisa had the patience to climb up that telephone poll to answer it every time it rang.

Did you know there are words to the Andy Griffith theme song? Bet you just thought it was whistling but I have actually seen sheet music. You are whistling that tune right now, aren't you, as you picture Andy and barefooted Opey walking up to Myers Lake to fish? Warms your heart.

Even the instrumental songs were catchy like the "Da-da-da-da-da-da-da" from the Dick Van Dyke Show right before he tripped over the ottoman. Later versions had Laura and friends carefully helping him divert it. It's etched in my memory, a part of my childhood. And can't you just here that orchestra playing as you see Ben, Hoss, Little Joe and Adam riding through that burning map of Nevada on the opening of "Bonanza?"

Here is what always concerned me, though. When the strains of "Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip that started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship" started, my mind reeled with questions. If it was just a three-hour tour, why in the world did Lovie and Thurston pack all those clothes? Did they have a premonition that something bad was about to befall them? And how, pray tell, did they make those beautifully perfect coconut cream pies when they were on a deserted island? And Ginger the Movie Start had enough cosmetics to last a lifetime!

Oh well, these are answers I won't have in this lifetime. But I'm a better person for knowing these songs and if ever there is a test . . . .

Let me know, fellow bloggers, of any of your favorite I might have left out.