BUCKING THE SYSTEM: WATCHING RERUNS OF 'ANDY GRIFFITH' LENDS PERSPECTIVE

It's funny how much perspective you can gain watching reruns of "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Law and Order."

That's what I've been doing, you know. Sure, I've given birth to a healthy baby boy and been relieved of some gallstones that were making life extremely difficult, but other than that, I haven't done much of anything else.

For the record, my parents and sister are to be thanked for the lazy days. After two surgeries in a three-week time period, my body and mind were shot, and Patrick couldn't take care of me and the kids and keep the lights on at the same time.

Enter my other family: those folks I relied on for everything before I got married. They packed me and the boys up, moved us to Charleston, and forbade me to lift anything heavier than wrapping paper or a television remote.

As they happily spoiled my sons, I was able to get some much needed R and R and laze away my days watching the aforementioned TV shows.

Andy Griffith and the ensemble cast of "Law and Order" were integral parts of my daily routine during my hiatus from work. If something happened to make me miss these shows -- for example, if my dad had a shift change and demanded control of the remote -- my entire day would be thrown off-kilter.

Although I'm glad to be back to work, I believe those television shows helped me gain some valuable information about myself. For example, I learned that I really enjoy my job, and for the time being at least, I don't need or want to do anything else.

Let me explain. Each morning during my maternity leave I'd eat breakfast with Andy, who made me laugh and remember how simple life could be with the right outlook. I also enjoyed watching my 2-year-old son Jerry dance to the show's theme song while he did his best impression of a person whistling.

Lunch was preferably prepared early enough that I could catch the opening scenes of "Law and Order." I liked the intelligence of this show, and spent many a day trying to figure out whodunit before the cops and lawyers did.

I think these shows filled voids that existed after I left my normal work routine. For example, I believe Andy served as a substitute for the children I'd been covering in my role as education reporter. Kids have a sneaky way of simplifying situations that adults tend to take too seriously, and I always enjoy giving kids a voice so they can "tell it like it should be."

On the other hand, the real-life dramas that are played out on "Law and Order" satisfied the grittier side of reality that I sometimes have to cover. Everything is not beautiful and doesn't always come up roses, and sometimes reporters have to expose that fact. It's not necessarily a fun activity, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get an adrenaline rush and feeling of satisfaction from my own, everyday whodunits.

So now you know where I've been and what I've been up to for the past seven weeks. Hopefully some of you have missed me while I was gone, but at least you know I've been trying to keep my skills up to speed.

The new baby was just an extra plum in that pudding.

~Tamara Zellars Buck is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.