Hello everyone, it's Mother's Day here today, as I am writing this so Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and grandmothers who are a part of our list. I hope you have all had a lovely day. For those of you who aren't mums, I hope that you have been able to remember your own Mum in a special way today too. I have certainly had a lovely day, spending it with my family and my mother in law. It's nice to get together as we don't often seem to find the time as our families all grow older.

Usually this weekend one of the TV stations tends to replay Mothers Day on Waltons Mountain, but they didn't this year. Perhaps I should get my tape out and watch it tonight anyway. :-)

Till next digest, Karen.

From Julie:

Hi Karen! Just another comment regarding Earl Hamner's accent. I spent several years in Greensboro, NC (NC being just below Virginia), and have heard the accent among people who were born and raised there. Not all natives of the area speak with that particular Canadian sound we've been discussing, but I do remember one or two people in particular who did. Why some did and others didn't, I don't know! Interesting, isn't it? I liked the theory of one contributor to digest #11 who suggested perhaps some Canadians and some Virginians/ Southerners came from the same area of England! Who knows??

KAREN'S COMMENT: The comments about accents are certainly interesting. You seem to have so many different accents from the different parts of the USA, and Canada (to my ears anyway) seems to be fairly similar, although I can detect the Canadian accent when they say the "ou" sound in house or out. All of the accents seem quite strange because, over here it's very difficult to tell what part of Australia someone is from, as our accents are all fairly similar.

From Lee:

Howdy friends. Some one asked about Jim-Bob in Digest 10. I saw him in a Chevy Chase film in the 80's. I think it was Fletch. I checked out Ralph's forum and it is growing everyday. I tried to answer a few of the questions posted. I urge Marilynn and some of the other Walton Whiz's to add their two cents. I also went to www.dejanews.com and search The Waltons. There were some interesting posts in there also. Happy Waltoning!!

KAREN'S COMMENT: I haven't searched dejanews yet but I certainly will when I next get on the Internet. Thanks for the tip Lee. Does anyone know of any other sites which have news about The Waltons?

From Ellen:

Hello fellow Waltons Fans, my name is Ellen from Pennsylvania. I know that some of you already know me because we have met through other lists, (The Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and The Road to Avonlea). I am fairly new to the list and I am enjoying all the posts. Thank you Karen for undertaking this project. I really enjoy these lists talking about some of the BEST shows that have ever aired! I am currently taping my Waltons episodes, and I think that I only need about 7 more episodes to finish my collection!! And they are on this week, if FAM airs them as the guide shows, and they have so far. So, on that note, Day of Infamy should be on tomorrow night. I can't wait. I have never seen it, but I did see The Whirlwind, and I agree that it stunk. They should have left Curt dead! You are so right, Brenda.

I think Beth was probably right about the Family Channel not airing those two episodes pertaining to ghosts. I wouldn't have put them in my collection if they did.

Just out of curiosity, I would like to ask a question, Were any of you disappointed in the special movie that aired about the Waltons Thanksgiving Reunion?? I was so upset with so many things that they screwed up on in that movie. First, they never mentioned John Curtis, as if he was never one of Mary Ellen's kids, and Mary Ellen wasn't supposed to be able to have any children to Jonesy, but in this episode she has 2 other children. ( I guess they could have been adopted). Cindy and Ben are struggling with the loss of Virginia, and Little Charlie apparently was never even born to them!!

I know there was another thing that upset me, I just can't think of it right at the moment. Any comments on this? This was the movie that aired in 1993.

O.K. I have talked long enough. I would love to go to Waltons Mountain to visit the museum someday. I have a friend who went and she brought me back a little tiny vase with a picture of horses and it says Waltons Mountain on it, but I would really like to see it myself. Thanks for letting me ramble on.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I enjoyed reading your comments about A Waltons Thanksgiving. I have not seen this movie and I don't believe that it has ever been screened here. Our programmers show a decided lack of taste I feel. :-) I have, however, heard a lot about it and agree with your comments. It would be interesting to hear what other members think. Lucky you having the whole series on tape.

From Ralph:
In response to a question about Kami Cotler and Eric Scott's wife:

1. Kami and her husband are the proud parents of Cotton Myers Talbot Howard, born 4/6/97, 8 lb. 2 oz.
2. Eric Scott's wife, Theresa, died on Nov. 5, 1992, at age 33, two days after giving birth to their daughter, Ashley Elizabeth. Eight months into her pregnancy, on Nov.2, Theresa was diagnosed with a particularly virulent form of leukemia. On Nov. 3, the baby was born by cesarean one month premature.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for the update on Kami, Ralph. It's lovely news and I'm sure we all congratulate her and her husband. I had heard the story about Eric Scott's wife. It was a real tragedy and I'm sure would have been an extremely difficult time for him. I certainly hope that things are much happier for him now.

From Barb:

Karen, I just received Digest 11, thank you. I agree with your comments about the Easter special. I would really like to see more of the everyday lives of the characters. I would like to see their homes, spouses and children. I would especially like to see the way that the adult "children" interact with each other and each other's families. Did they all remain close, are they still involved in each other's day to day lives and the lives of their neighbors, etc.

Though I can't seem to pinpoint a favorite episode, I'm anxiously waiting for the series to start over on the Family channel. I would really like to see the episode where Grandpa and Grandma move out on their own for a time. I liked that episode very much. Grandpa is definitely my favorite character.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I wonder if others agree with us Barb? I must say that I have a real soft spot for Grandpa too.

From Marie:

Hello! I just picked up my Waltons Memorabilia Package at the post office today! It has two pages of "Questions Most Frequently Asked by Earl Hamner", a floor plan of the first floor of the Walton home, the prologue from the Homecoming, a page of 'Did You Know?' facts and tidbits, a map of the town of Schuyler, a copy of the masthead of the Blue Ridge Chronicle, a "Daily Production Report" and the first page of the final draft of the 1993 special with the cast and crew signatures and best wishes, Earl Hamner's family tree, a Walton crossword puzzle, pages from the script for "The Burnout", and a photo of Earl Hamner sitting on the front porch of the Walton's house.

I enjoyed all the information and it's certainly worth the $10. I caught up with the additions Ralph made to The Walton page. Excellent! I'm looking forward to our trip to the museum. The mountains should be beautiful this time of year.

To Lee and the list of cousins of the Baldwin sisters: Miss Emily mentions a "Cousin Mirabelle who had aphids last time they spoke" in The Last Ten Days. Also, in The Legacy, she mentions "...1936 when Cousin Phalonius came...", sorry, I'm guessing at the spelling of his name. I'll keep an ear out for more.

Karen: I can't decide which episode I like the best but one I enjoy again and again is The Legacy when Ashley Longworth, Jr. comes to Walton's Mountain. The story is by Michael Learned and the episode is well written. Mary Jackson plays Miss Emily's difficult part perfectly.

KAREN'S COMMENT: When are you going to the Museum Marie? Please write and tell us all about it when you get back. I'm looking forward to getting my Memorabilia pack too. It's on it's way but probably won't be here for a while. I love all the references throughout The Waltons to Ashley Longworth. He was even mentioned in the pilot by Miss Emily. I think it was a good move to bring his son into the show as a beau for Erin. Imagine the shock it caused Miss Emily! I didn't realize that the story for this episode was by Michael Learned. I like the way that many of the cast seemed to have suggested story lines or directed different episodes.