Hi everyone,

I hope everyone who wanted to watch the Richard Thomas movie, The Christmas Secret, was able to watch and enjoy it. I suspect it might be a while before it finds its way over here.

However, I did have a bit of a Waltons day yesterday, when I stumbled across a film made in 1975, called Eric. It was one of the midday movies, and very 70's to look at. It was about a young man who developed leukemia, and his efforts to fight it. Anyway, what made it Waltons related was that Patricia Neal played the mother, Sian Barbara Allen played the love interest of Eric and Eileen McDonough, the sometimes Patsy Brimmer, played Eric's little sister. It was kind of like a reunion. :-)) It was fun to see them all in this movie. Has anyone else seen it?

Speaking of Sian, I had a look at the Internet Movie Database and it mentions Sian guest starring in a couple of later TV series...in 1990 she played in an episode of LA Law (series 4, ep 13 "Whatever Happened to Hannah?) and also in Cagney and Lacey "Final series episode 1988". It would appear then that she hadn't been quite as quiet as we'd thought. Wonder if she's done anything more recent than that? The IMDB also puts her birthdate as 12th July, 1946 which would make her quite a few years older than Richard Thomas. I wouldn't have thought that.

I also watched The Best Christmas during this week. It is a great Christmas episode. I especially loved the way that Grandpa strode down to the best hotel in Charlottesville to spend Christmas Eve in better chairs in their lobby. A great scene. I also loved the way Erin answered the phone with Merry Christmas every time. I was a little saddened when Elizabeth said to Aimee, something along the lines of "you'll get everything you wish for" and Aimee looked and sounded a bit sad when she said that she supposed she would. I got the feeling that she might have been wishing for more love and family than for gifts, but that was never really explored. Maybe I just read a bit more into it. I just thought she looked a bit wistful and perhaps envious of Elizabeth and her large family. The singing of carols at the end is a lovely, Waltonsy way to finish the episode too.

Next week perhaps we can talk about The Spirit, which I also saw this week. It's a newer one for me, but more about it next week.

Talk to you all then. Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

P.S. Following up from another letter I received during the week, I am told that Columbia House no longer has The Waltons videos. Did anyone else know that?

Hello Karen, I am glad to be reading everyone's story and I wish I could type some of things for everyone but I don't know how to sign up. Well I wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year and hope I will hear from you again.

Sandy

KAREN'S COMMENT: There seems to be a little confusion among some of you, about how you should send messages for the digest. Firstly anyone who contacts me with "Waltons Mailing List" is added to the Digest list and you will be sent a welcome message and the latest digest. The welcome message will tell you that if you want to send something to the digest, which then gets sent out to all members, you just need to send me a letter (email) with "Waltons Digest" in the subject part, and it will go in the next digest. Simple. Many people choose to be members and not contribute, but still keep up with the gossip, and that's fine, but many like to contribute sometimes, and that's the way to do it. Sandy, you're certainly not the first person to be unsure of how to go about it. Anyway, just send email to me <kearney@bigpond.net.au>. I love getting it all. :-))

Another great Digest! The opinions expressed over the Walton Christmas shows, especially "Day of Infamy" are quite profound. I think this episode is so relevant right now of course because of September 11th and many Americans can relate to what "The Waltons" endured during Pearl Harbor and its immediate aftermath.

I also like "The Best Christmas" because Olivia plans the perfect Christmas, only to have things go awry. The winter storm that knocks the lights out and causes a fallen tree to destroy the church roof; the accident that lands Fanny Tatum and her niece in a pond full of cold water; as well as Grandma and Grandpa being forced to spend Christmas Eve in a hotel lobby.

All this notwithstanding, Olivia manages to have her "best Christmas" after all. This in essence was the nature of "The Waltons", facing adversity and obstacles and prevailing over them.

I also like the "Children's Carol" but I'll save that for another Digest.

Merry Christmas to all Walton fans around the world and may 2002 bring abundant joy, peace, and prosperity. 2002 is a big year for Walton fans but more about that later. Good night and God bless you all.

-Patrick

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for your comments on The Best Christmas. When I was watching it I thought that it really was the last Christmas that the whole cast would be together wasn't it? Did the writers know something? We might do the Children's Carol next week too, or we won't get it in before Christmas.

Karen,

I still have to say my favorite Christmas episode have to be The Homecoming movie, and the 2 part episode The Children's Carol. I especially love when Jason writes the music to the Children's Carol and they all sing it.

Cally!

KAREN'S COMMENT: It is very special for that reason too Cally. Look out for more comments next week.

This article came during the week from Donald. As always, thanks Donald, and happy Christmas to you and Erin the Cat. :-))

Earl Hamner Jr. Comes Home

The writer behind the 'The Waltons' and 'The Homecoming' will appear tonight in his Christmas play in the Laguna Playhouse.

By MIKE BOEHM

TIMES STAFF WRITER

December 7 2001

John Boy Walton and Earl Hamner Jr. are pretty much one and the same; now they are about to step on stage together for the first time.

The complete article can be viewed at:

http://www.latimes.com/la-000097142dec07.story

Visit Latimes.com at http://www.latimes.com

KAREN'S COMMENT: This is a terrific article and you really should all visit to read it. Send your comments on it if you like, for next week. Thanks again for sending the link Donald.

Karen - this is the first time I've signed on to the Digest so please let me know if I'm doing this right. I am, like all of you, a big Walton's fan. My friends think I'm kind of a wierdo but I can't help it. I'm hooked.

My husband is very good about accommodating my little "obsession." As a matter of fact, just before Thanksgiving, he spent a whole day listening to a local radio station and calling in every hour to try and be the "7th caller" so he could win me a video of the Walton's Thanksgiving. And eventually he won! I was very touched.

I watched the "Day of Infamy" episode on Dec. 7. It was actually the first time I'd seen it. I too cried like all of you when John read the letter from Curt to John Curtis. It broke my heart thinking of all the babies who grew up never knowing wonderful fathers because they died in battle. My own father went to Vietnam as a helicopter pilot in the Air Force when I was about 19 months old. I am one of the lucky ones - my dad came home. I can't imagine the person I would be today if I'd never known him. He has shaped my life in so many positive ways. I am 33 now. My father is 58. And even now I think I'd be as devastated if he died today as I'd have been as a child - maybe more so because I've known him for longer and known him now as a friend as well as a father. It is so sad to think of children being stripped of that experience.

Ironically, as I write this Shannon Spann, the wife of slain CIA officer Mike Spann is speaking about her lost husband at his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Officer Spann left 3 children behind I think - including a baby about 19 months old.

Jennifer

KAREN'S COMMENT: What a lovely husband you have Jennifer. Congratulations of winning the video. With the war having gone on so long too, many fathers arrived home to be greeted by children that they didn't even know simply because they had grown up so much. It would have been so hard for Dads to integrate back into their families I think.

Singing in the Rain is going to be on next Sunday evening on the Turner Classic Movie Channel. Hopefully you will get the Digest up in time that the people in the states will know about it. They had Giant last evening then I got to see Sleepless in Seattle.

The Best Christmas was of course shown today and today was the day after the 25th anniversary of its initial showing. Tomorrow is the 25th birthday of Elizabeth Erin Hale--the girl who gave me Erin the cat 5 years ago this coming Christmas day---Wednesday is the 5th anniversary of the arrangement for Erin the cat to be brought to Dallas from New Orleans. And that's not all ---December 29 Elizabeth Erin Hale marries Lee Hungate Spitzer at the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas.

One of the most distinct incidents in this episode is Erin's need for cough drops to keep her voice clear and nice in cold night weather. I have also been needing cough drops the past few days as my sinuses really have started to bother me--its probably Mountain Cedars.

The movie about the Flight of A Reindeer by Richard Thomas was The Christmas Secret. It will be on Friday the 14th but it will be on at the same time as The Grinch so many people who don't have the VCRs capable of taping one show while watching another will not be able to watch it.

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'd forgotten about the cough drops but yes, she does mention them. Over here we're still in need of hayfever tablets, but it's still so cold here in Melbourne that we might be needing the cough drops too!

I was wondering if anyone knew whether or not Ellen Corby and Will Geer, ever appeared together again on The Waltons after she had her stroke and before he died? It's so sad to see one without the other on the show - especially since the events surrounding their leave from the show were actual events in real life.

Jennifer

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes, but just once I think. Ellen Corby returned after her stroke in Grandma Comes Home, the final episode for season 6 I think, and then Will Geer died during that summer hiatus.

Seasons Greeting from Vermont! It is finally white and cold here. I thought we were going to skip winter all together this year.

The Best Christmas is definitely my favorite of all the Walton's Christmas shows (excluding The Homecoming). It is wonderful how all the kids pull together to give Olivia the Christmas she wants.

I also love the scene with John-boy, Ben, and Elizabeth, where they are teasing her about everything she says. It was so like how brothers and sisters behave with each other.

The bell-hop in the hotel where grandma and grandpa spend the night is really funny too.

I someday hope that my family can give my mother a Christmas like that, but we are scattered all over the country, so I am afraid it won't happen for a long time.

That's all from a very Christmassy Vermont!

Good Night Everyone, ----Jennifer

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm glad you're very Christmassy there Jennifer, but like I said, I'm still waiting for summer to arrive. I think we had it for a couple of weeks in September/October instead. :-)

Hi Karen,

The first email got bounced back, so here goes another one:

I liked watching the Day of Infamy, especially on the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbour. Very fitting in our current world as well.

The Best Christmas was a great "feel good" episode for me, especially seeing Grama and Grampa sleeping in the hotel Lobby on their way bay to the house, and when they arrive, seeing all the family gathered around the tree singing "Oh Christmas Tree".

I've discovered, that the best symbol of Christmas for me, is the lights, decorated on houses and trees and such. Every year, we have a show tour for the city to take part in, and is listed in our local paper throughout the holidays, for neighbors, friends and visitors. It is free, and it's a great way to get to know your neighbors. It's also fun to have the tour when it's snowing, but I think we're having a green Christmas this year..if not a wet one! ;o)

Homelessness, unfortunately, is becoming too much of a reality here around the holidays, so a group of people are donating food & blankets for those on the street, so it's also a great way to support the local community here.

I'm off to Seattle, while my parents are off to Arizona, and my siblings and in-laws are in the city over the holidays. I swear, I'm determined to get this family together next year for Christmas!! ;o)

Peace & Safety to all over the holidays! And we'll see you on-line in 2002!!

Goodnight everyone! Merry Christmas!!

= :o)

~Nicole

KAREN'S COMMENT: As you can see Nicole, I did finally get this email via Mary. It took a long way to come!!! Don't know why the first one bounced back, but each week I have digests doing the same thing! We have a lot of lights and displays set up here too and I love them. Our school supports our local people who really wouldn't have a terrific Christmas, by providing both food and Christmas hampers for them. There's such a lot of struggling people at the moment.

WE enjoy the waltons over and over again. Do you know where we can get a copy of the The HomeComing? Is it scheduled to be televised this Christmas season?

Harold

KAREN'S COMMENT: Harold I hope you don't mind me including your letter but I've had a lot of queries about it. The Waltons Mountain Museum carries this video, or it is available from <www.amazon.com>. Do a search for Richard Thomas and you'll find it under there. Does anyone know if The Homecoming will be on over Christmas?