Hi everyone,

Hope you've all had a great week. It's been our last week of school here this past week, and finally it does feel like spring. Some days have been really lovely here over the past week, although we've still had our fair share of heavy rain, and on Thursday the children came rushing inside after a huge clap of thunder and a bolt of lightning really scared them. You should have heard the screaming!

Currently I am on holidays (the first day today) and I'm enjoying sitting down in front of the Olympics and watching it live. It's not very often that we here in Australia, have the luxury of live Olympics, because usually the time differences are such that we get things during the middle of the night. It's nice to see things as they happen this time. I thoroughly enjoyed the opening ceremony, and there have been some terrific gymnastics performances among the men so far. Women start tomorrow so I'll be tied to the armchair again, as the Australians begin in the first rotation. By the way, I hear America won the first gold medal of the games. Fantastic!

As for The Waltons, I have absolutely no news on that front, so I might close now and go straight to your letters.

I hope you will all enjoy seeing your favorite sports during the Olympics. Till next week...

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Regarding the comments about the episode in which Curt turns up alive, played by another actor - I never really accepted that, either, but for me, the reason was because those episodes seemed like a soap opera. People come "back from the dead" all the time on soaps, and because of the genre, you accept their suddenly being alive again as part of the entertainment of the program. But "The Waltons" was so much like real life, and not like a soap opera at all, so when Curt turned out not to be dead after all, it seemed like for that one episode, the producers "broke faith" with their loyal viewers.

Just my two cents!

Geri Ann

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes I can see your point Geri Ann. I guess many people would feel the same about another, different John Boy joining the family too. Certainly it would have been far better for the original Curt to return. Maybe he didn't like the script?

Hi! I just wanted to let Jennifer know that it really is Judy Norton on the show ED on NBC. She has posted on the Walton's Forum and has talked about this. Although I can see how she would think that it was Nancy McKeon. They really do look a lot alike. I hope this clears up some confusion.

Cheryl

KAREN'S COMMENT: Not having seen Ed I can't comment, but I guess they do look a little alike. I think often their hair has been similar, but you can tell the difference when they speak, I always think. Nancy has a quite distinctive voice.

Karen,

I haven't written in a long time but I'm still here in Alabama. I missed something, or there is a "typo" from Marie's note.

<<Hi Karen: I am so glad you are back in business. We have an Iopener and so far, not too many problems.>>

What is her "iopener"? Actually I missed something else too when my VCR did not tape "The Life & Times" special, which I haven't seen yet ! RATS !

Ed

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well Ed, I thought that maybe an iopener was an American thingy, because I haven't heard of it either, however I assumed it was some sort of computer. Maybe a brand name. Isn't it frustrating when you don't tape something you had planned to. I sat down the other Sunday evening and thought I was taping Touched by an Angel and watching Seachange, only to find that Seachange was taped instead. I don't know what happened but I can only guess that I did something quite silly. :-))

Hello everyone! Just wanted to say that I did see the commercial for the TV series "Ed", and it is to be on NBC on Sundays this fall. And yes it is Judy Norton in the commercial, although I don't know if she has a regular role on the show. It is great to see that she is getting all of these projects. Can't wait to see her in 'Christy", I always did like that show!

Karen, I do believe that the Ike Godsey's General Merchandise store, from the Waltons Mountain Museum has the tape of Ike and Ben doing their song and dance routines. I recently ordered the"The Walton's Christmas Together Again" CD and I remember seeing it. Well, that's all for now! Take Care All!

Judy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thankyou for the information about where people can pick up the Ike and Ben routines. Maybe a Christmas gift for some of you.

Hi Karen and everyone!

I would like to thank all who responded to my questions. It really helped. Anyways, its been a pretty boring week...other than starting high school...I haven't done anything. Have any of you seen What Love Sees on either CBS or lifetime? Its a really sweet movie. For those of you who have missed it...Richard Thomas stars as a blindman who marries a blindwoman. They have their joys and sorrows. Yadda yadda yadda...you get the picture. I think I already said that before in a previous letter....oh well! :)

What's this about a Christy movie? Christy? Who is that? lol...I guess I'm too young...I will have to see it.

I read that Richard Thomas was in that movie Wonder Boys. Is this true? If so, I must make a point to see it.

Well homework time :(

Hayley

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well Hayley, if you've only just started high school (hope it went well by the way) then you might be just a little young to remember Christy. :-) It was a series done in 1994, just 2 seasons I think. It starred Kellie Martin as Christy. Have a look at the following web site for more info.

http://members.nbci.com/christy_show/

I think why it may have been popular with people who like The Waltons is because it is also set in the Appalachian Mountains, and it is another really wholesome show. If you get a chance to watch it, it's well worth looking at. With renewed interest in the series you might find stations repeating it.

I am positive that I once saw an episode of the Walton's where the Walton kids got a hold of a Ouija board. As I recall, Olivia was upset and John Boy tried to explain to her that there were scientists that were actually studying these sorts of things. Does this sound familiar to anybody? Am I confusing it with some other episode or some other program, or am I simply making all this up? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks to all.

Ed

KAREN'S COMMENT: You're not imagining things...it happened in The Ghost Story. Season 2.