Postcards From the Couch: Andy Beshear Fever takes over Kentucky

Andy Mania has arrived, just in the nick of time.

It was Jan. 9 when Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers, asked about a flu going around the locker room, advised his teammates, “Wash your hands, wash your butt.”

It was around this time the Coronovirus was making its way to U.S. shores and had begun its spread, unbeknownst to many of us. The NFL wide receiver’s words now seem clairvoyant. Wash everything, and make sure you’re wearing gloves.

And when the first cases of COVID-19 hit Kentucky, an unexpected hero rose to the occasion, taking a firm leadership role that has brought with it a certain amount of celebrity. I’m talking, of course, about Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

Staying mostly in hiding like everyone else, I’ve watched this phenomenon spread much like the pandemic we’re all responding to, but in the absolute opposite way. “Andy Fever,” if you will, is not something that fills us with chills, body aches, a hacking, dry cough and fever. No, Andy Fever seems to be filling Kentucky with warmth and security, a warm blanket when things around us seem so very cold.

I’ve watched his daily pressers from my couch when possible, and when not, I catch replays or at least highlights (I’m talking about this like it’s March Madness, and it sort of is). The way the man handles himself as a leader has been unexpected from a guy who I felt came across as a bit on the “stiff” side.

But that first impression, based largely on campaign ads I saw during last year’s gubernatorial election, was shattered when I watched that first initial conference. He commands the room. He exudes compassion and confidence at the same time. Am I wrong, or did his leadership in this public crisis surprise a lot of people? Sure, I felt the man came to the job with plenty of integrity, but I didn’t envision this performance in such a difficult and uncertain time.

And so it is that, because this is 2020 and we are who we are, the Andy memes are flying around social media. He’s been portrayed in memes and videos as Mr. Rogers, Spider-man, Superman, Jim Halpert from “The Office,” a mother hen, a sumo wrestler taking out the virus, Star Trek’s Capt. Kirk in command of the ship, a Mandalorian and Kermit the Frog.

People may be nervous, but it hasn’t stifled anyone’s creativity.

Unfailingly, these memes depict Beshear as comforting or protecting a personified Kentucky, holding the state gently in his arms as he single-handedly wards off the evil virus. The only thing missing are the “POW!”, “BAM!”, “BIFF!” cartoon proclamations from the old Batman TV show. Best of all, Beshear has a sense of humor about it, saying in Sunday’s press conference, “If it makes people smile right now, I'm for it.”

A Facebook group titled “andy beshear memes for social distancing teens” is up to 72,000-plus members as I write this from my couch. The guy has been in office for less than five months. FIVE MONTHS. Already, he owns this state by taking control in a situation most Kentuckians never thought we would see in our lifetime.

And it has even translated into sort of a state-wide crush. In a Salon.com story, Beshear was called a “clean-cut sex symbol for the coronavirus age.” Yep. Kentucky women are beginning to swoon over this composed, confident, unlikely hero. He’s Bruce Wayne without the screwed-up psyche and dark vendetta.

As such, t-shirts proclaiming “Govern Me, Daddy” are apparently selling well at a Kentucky-centric website. A little creepy when put it a sex-symbol context? Yeah, probably. Hell, or maybe I’m just jealous. No woman I ever met asked me to “govern” her.

So in touch with Kentucky is Beshear, that when he announced an even more tightened shutdown of places that encouraging large gatherings, deeming them non-essential businesses, he exempted liquor stores. I mean, does this guy know us or what? You take away access to bourbon in Kentucky and even the sick would rise up in mutiny, and he knows it. He *gets* it.

And let’s face it, what more could we ask for as we languish in our pajamas, sprawled on couches with a cocktail watching reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show” and, god forbid, “Friends,” than something to look forward to every day? Beshear’s 5 p.m. daily pressers have become a pacifier of sorts for a state filled with worried and sick people. A needed comfort in an uncomfortable time.

Remember when you were sick or scared as a kid, and your mom or dad would give you that look or say that one thing that reassured you they had the situation taken care of? Remember that feeling of relief and security? This is at the root of Andy Fever. If we’re the scared kids, he’s the unwavering dad. And every day at 5, he reminds us, “Relax, Kentucky. I got this.”

Govern me, too, Andy. Govern us all real good.

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