Hi everyone,

I had thought that I would send out a digest over the weekend, but time just slipped away and I hadn't got around to it until now.

We, here in Australia, were very shocked and upset to hear of the death of Princess Diana on Sunday (our time). She has been an enormously popular person in Australia and throughout the world, and her early death is a tragedy. My thoughts, and I'm sure all of ours on the list, go out to the families of Diana and the other two men killed in the accident.

This incident, and the country's/world's reaction to it, reminded me of the 1993 Waltons special depicting the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The shocked disbelief, followed by the immense grief of losing a President who was so young were well portrayed. Over here, in the past few days, we have gathered as a family, around the TV to watch some of the tributes to this remarkable woman, in just the same way that the Walton family gathered and watched the JFK tragedy unfold. People will be talking about it for a long time to come, and many parallels are already being drawn between the two incidents. I pray that she will finally be able to rest in peace and I can only hope that the love, nurturing and guidance she has so obviously given her two sons will remain with them as they continue on through their lives without her.

Goodnight all,

Karen

From Marie:

Hi, everyone! Karen, what holidays are coming up there? It's great news that another Walton special will be produced next year! Alison, thanks for the information on the McDonough name. How do you pronounce it?

In Digest #35, Brian gives a nice synopsis of Ben and Jim-Bob discussing "Sinful Cindy", I really enjoyed it. Kaz (Welcome!), I liked your classic Jim-Bob gem, too. This is what the mailing list is all about.

This was posted on Ralph's Discussion Forum by Lisa De Mille: Twenty-five years ago, "The Waltons" introduced us to the beauty of the simple mountain life -- and stole our hearts. The Family Channel is paying tribute to this timeless classic Sunday, Sept 14, with an eight-hour anniversary event. The marathon features the series' most memorable episodes: (times are Eastern and Pacific here in the States)

The Conflict 10 a.m. to noon

The Burn Out noon to 2 p.m.

The Wedding 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Grandchild 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Someone once asked how many episodes DIDN'T start with the word "The". I've found five regular shows - Day of Infamy, Founder's Day, Grandma Comes Home, John's Crossroad, Spring Fever. Anymore besides the specials?

More Walton pets: Jeffrey has a female cat named Harold in The Fastidious Wife and in The Traveling Man, Jeffrey has a dog named Nick. I don't think you see either of these pets again.

Lee, here's another Baldwin cousin - Octavius, could he be a twin brother to Octavia? :). He is mentioned in The Triumph in which the Baldwin ladies are in Ike's store....

Miss Mamie: "Oh, sister, I forgot the shopping list."

Miss Emily: "You told me to bring it." She smiles. Miss Mamie waits then...

Miss Mamie: "Well, Emily, the list!"

Miss Emily: "There."

Miss Mamie: "Oh, no, this is a letter from Cousin Octavius - written when he

was still in the ...ah... institution."

Miss Emily: "Dear Octavius, I was always so fond of him. I remember once ..."

Miss Mamie: "The shopping list, sister?"

Miss Emily: "Oh, yes, here."

I wonder if they had as much fun filming these interludes as we do watching them? Don't miss this week's episode The Last Ten Days on Friday morning - it has a great scene in which the phone rings at the Baldwin's. It's Emily's turn to answer but she loves to hear the ringing. It's precious!

From Marie:

Tuesday evening (September 2) Family Channel is starting with Episode #1 - The Foundling. Wednesday evening is The Carnival which is the second episode. Just thought you might like to know.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for all of these snippets Marie. I hope everyone enjoys the marathon...what wonderful episodes these were. Being 2 hours they really had time to develop the story line etc. As for the pronunciation of McDonough, I always thought it would sound like "McDonna". But of course I'm probably wrong. :-)

We have 4 school terms over here of about 10 weeks each, Marie. Term 3 is coming to an end and we will then have 2 weeks break. Roughly term 1 is from the last week in January to Easter. Term 2 then runs to the last week in June, term 3 to the last week or so in September, then term 4 finishes just before Christmas. We then have summer holidays of about 6 weeks. Each term break is 2 weeks. Not really a holiday for those students in years 11 and 12 because homework is set and assessment tasks must still be completed.

From Shirley:

It was a pleasure chatting with you the other day or should I say night. I have just received my first newsletter from The Friends of the Waltons Fan Club. As you may know, I am deeply into family tree research and after reading the newsletter, I learned that Earl Hamner had a teacher by the name of Clyde Parr. I have ancestors by the name Parr and it is known that some of those Parrs did move to the USA from Nova Scotia. On another note, I have also learned that Jon Walmsley (Jason) could be a very distant cousin. My 6th great-grandmother was Sarah Walmsley, the daughter of Richard Walmsley and who was born around 1728 in Lancashire, England the very same place that Jon Walmsley was born on Feb 6, 1956.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Hi Shirley, I wasn't sure if this was for the digest, but since we have so many genealogy fans, I thought they might be interested too. You have certainly been able to go a long way back with your family tree. Mine is only traced to the early 1800's mostly at the moment. None of mine are from Lancashire though.

From Jane:

Hi, this is Jane again. The book I am talking about, is not by Earl Hamner, but, I don't know who the author is. But it is a book with only the opening quotes of the Walton's at the beginning of the show, and right at the end of the show. Can you get any information on this? Thank-you.

KAREN'S COMMENT: If anyone knows the book Jane is referring to can you please let us all know.

From Kim:

I was looking for more Walton videos info on the Internet today. I found this article about Judy Norton and scientology as well:

<http://www.scientology.org/wis/wiseng/17/17-06.htm>

I had no idea she was a member of scientology. Maybe you can mention this in your digest if you want.

I also found a site where you can order viewmaster cards of the Waltons:

<http://3dstereo.com/tv&mov.htm>

Take care, Kim

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for the links Kim. Yes I did know that Judy was a scientologist and has been for some time. I think that was why she was in Australia some years ago.

Dear Karen and Everyone on The Waltons Mailing List:

I have just started a new Waltons Webring. It is for everyone who has an Internet page with content dealing with The Waltons. Also, it is for everyone on this mailing list who has a homepage. You do not have to have Waltons content on your page to qualify, as long as you are a member of this list. I only ask that the content of your page be suitable for all ages.

A webring is a good way for people with similar interests to connect their pages. It is also a good way to increase traffic to your page. I hope all of you with a homepage will consider joining The Waltons Webring.

For more information, go to:

http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Meadows/7604/webring.html

If you have questions or problems, email me <irby2@marshall.edu>. I will do my best to answer your questions or help you.

Brenda Irby

KAREN'S COMMENT: sounds a wonderful idea Brenda...I'm about to sign up!

Greetings From The Hoosier state,

I have heard a rumor that a former United States Vice President appears in an episode of the Waltons in a background shot as an extra. Does anyone know which one? Please EMAIL me direct at: MAPPESE@AOL.COM

Happy Waltoning,

Eric,

KAREN'S COMMENT: It's been a while since we have heard from you Eric. Hope you've been well. Please let the list know if/when you get an answer. This might be a question for a Hamner!

From Kim:

I have one of those dumb little questions that can nag at you all day. I was watching "The Townie" and, during the scene where Sarah Jane Simmons brings Theordore Albert Claypool over to meet the Waltons, she interrupts a potential argument between Claypool and Johnboy by saying, "We'd better get going. I have to be home by four." However, when Sarah came over, the Waltons had been eating supper. Does this mean that they ate their evening meal around 3 or 3:30? Was this a writing slip or did people in that area during the depression eat that early?

KAREN'S COMMENT: I would need to look at this episode again before commenting. Perhaps they were eating lunch and Sarah and Theodore had plans to go somewhere else before getting Sarah home at 4. Just a thought. Send any more suggestions and I'll post them. It's funny how you pick up little things like this.