Hi everyone,

Well finally our gas has been reconnected and we had our first hot shower here last Thursday. It was wonderful. :-)) Baths are all very nice, but it's a bit hard to wash your hair properly when there's really no way to rinse it.

Anyway it was finally decided that we could have gas back for cooking and hot water, but the heating is banned at the moment because the gas is still in very short supply. It's been really cold here, but we've been making do by huddling up in blankets in front of a little blow heater. If you sit right on top of it you do get a bit warm, but they're not really designed for big rooms. A wood fire would be just lovely I think.

Apart from that, there's not really much going on down here. School started again this week, and shops have already begun putting out their things for Christmas. I'm intrigued...is it only in Australia that Christmas trees and decorations go into the shops so early on? I noticed some shops even had them out the last week in September. You wonder how many they sell so early on. Perhaps in the USA you might wait until after Thanksgiving?

Well enjoy the digest and I'll talk to you all again next week.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Dear Walton's Family,

When you receive this I will be a new bride. I am getting married on October 10, 1998 and noticed that Sharon and her husband will be celebrating their Fourth wedding anniversary this week. Congratulations Sharon and Mr. Sharon ;-). I have church friends who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on 10/10/98! Wow, it is wonderful to see so many people staying together for so long. You don't hear about those life time commitments much....mainly divorces. I told my sweetie that I have waited a long time to find him and will be with him forever. I "gush" when I watch Grandpa Walton & John Walton grab their wives and smooch them. This is the relationship that Joe & I have!

Cindy

KAREN'S COMMENT: It's actually the 10th today as I'm writing this, but it will probably be sent much later. I'll definitely be thinking of you and Joe, Cindy. I wish you both all the happiness today and for the rest of your lives together. I'm sure the wedding will go well and I'm positive you will enjoy your honeymoon. :-) Fifty years seems such a long time to share with one person doesn't it? My parents have just celebrated their 47th so they are getting close too. Love to you both Cindy, and we'll look forward to hearing from you soon.

I was logging off yesterday evening when I received news that the Walton Digest had arrived on my e mail site. But I needed to check back to be sure I had it. Hope the problem with the gas has been worked out. Also I have noticed that some of the Walton programs on TNN are out of order and I checked the web site and found that the episode about which a lot of people have been asking, "The Changeling", one that has not been shown yet, will not be shown at least until mid November. Perhaps they are saving it for the Thanksgiving day Blockbuster. I wish I had made a further note about what episode it was when Grandma was reading to Elizabeth from the Rojankovsky book of Fairy Tales.

Another thing that has come up on the Forum is the ages of the Walton Children and their birth dates. One thing has been overlooked. Some schools only went through the 10th grade in the 1930s and then graduation. So you could be 16 when you graduated from high school not 18

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: I hope TNN will finally be showing The Changeling. You're right Donald, a lot of people have been waiting for that one. What season are you onto now?

Dear Karen:

Thank you for such a forum as your digest. It allows us to share our feelings and experiences that we might otherwise choose to hide. I am going through a very emotional time right now with my father recently diagnosed with cancer. The doctors have given him 6 months and my mom, although she is putting on a good face for the outside, is struggling tremendously on the inside.

Now, I am sure you are wondering what on earth this would have to do with the Waltons. Well, I have been able to watch many episodes, as I have taped nearly all of them, and have drawn upon them for some inner strength. The writers and actors from that series should be very proud that what they gave to the viewers has helped many of us through distressing times. I have watched the episode in which Jason looses his friend, played by Ron Howard, many times and can relate to how he must have felt. Thank you, Karen, for your efforts and allowing us to share both the happy and sad times with each other and keeping the spirit of that wonderful family alive.

Sincerely,

Nancy

KAREN'S COMMENT: I was really sorry to hear about your Dad Nancy. I know just how difficult it is for families who have loved ones diagnosed with cancer. I'm pleased that you are gaining some comfort from some of the Waltons episodes. I often find that too. It's almost as if there's a message in there that just you were meant to see. The episode you mention is definitely a favorite amongst fans. Ron Howard did a wonderful job in the role of Seth and Jon Walmsley was excellent as Jason grieving for his friend. I just loved the scene where Grandpa gave Jason the recorder too. Very moving.

Hi Karen,

My favorite episode from season four is The Prophecy. It's about John's high school reunion. I liked the way all the folks got together to celebrate even though there weren't too many. It seems John did better than the rest when it came to family and all. It was a good show.

Doraine

KAREN'S COMMENT: It was interesting the way that all of his classmates actually felt that John had achieved much more than they had, even though he didn't initially see it.

Hi Karen,

I hope that everyone out there is well and happy. My favorite Walton's out of season 4 is The Sermon. I like the sermon that John Boy wrote. He really gave it to Cora Beth and that other lady (can't think of her name). I liked when he told about how much that his grandfather and grandmother loved the lord. The look on his grandmother's face was great. She was so pleased.

I know that last night's show is not part of season 4 but I have to tell you that when Amy went and talk to Grandpa and he told he would be her adopted Grandpa that just pulled on my heart strings. At end when he went and sat on the bench in front of the hospital and stayed because he couldn't sleep, well that just did me in! I sat and cried like a fool. Well Karen I've got to go for now. Take care. Good night from the state of Maine.

Nancy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Nancy I have to agree with you. This episode is one of my all time favorites. I love the way Esther pounds on the dresser as she is trying to tell John Boy of her thoughts for his sermon. John Boy sits so patiently when everyone is trying to tell him what he should say, and that huge pile of books he took home to help out! I wonder if he read or used anything from them.

Good evening Karen and all,

My husband and I just finished watching tonight's episode on TNN, "The Go-Getter". At the very end of it, there wasn't the usual "goodnight John-Boy" scene. We were wondering if this was maybe cut off by TNN, or were there other episodes that didn't have the family saying goodnight? Does anybody know?

Keep up the great work, Karen. I really enjoy the digests!

Robin in Ohio

KAREN'S COMMENT: I had a quick look at my copy of this Robin and there is indeed a goodnight scene. The John Boy as a man part talked about Jim Bob and Ben coming to each others help, then there is a piece where Elizabeth asks why ladies put candles on tables for romantic dinners. I would say that TNN must have chopped it. I'll try and transpose it for you for next week.

Hello all. I really must say that I enjoy this digest and the people that contribute to it weekly. I was watching the episode where Grandpa is told not to come to the hospital to see Grandma. I really felt for Grandpa and what he was going through. He looked so lost and lonely without his Ester. Grandpa has a special place in my heart as he reminds me so much of my Grandpa the way he acts and has such a knowledge of things. My Grandpa was exactly like Zeb. I believe they were cut from the same mold. My Grandpa passed away over 5 years ago and when I watch the Waltons and see Grandpa up to his old tricks, I think of my Grandpa. This show is will always be one of my all time favorites. Thanks and everyone have a good week. Until next time, good night.

Mike

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes Mike, isn't he funny the way he tries to hide behind a plant to get into the hospital to see Grandma. It really is a very poignant episode.

Hi,

We are all ready to have our Thanksgiven up here in Canada this week-end. I have my pies baked and my turkey brought for Monday's Thanksgiven dinner. This year I am adding some new dishes to the menu, like pumpkin squares and apple cider muffins.

One things I wanted to tell you, was about this web site that have pictures in it about the Walton Kitchen doll house. The following is more details: I personal think, it's neat...

"We recently won the Grand Prize in a national TV Show Roombox contest sponsored by Dollhouse Miniatures Magazine, for building a miniature (1-inch to 1-foot scale) replica of the Walton's family kitchen. We live in nearby Woodbridge, Virginia, and will be displaying the finished miniature setting in McLean, Virginia at The Tyson's Corner Holiday Inn, on Sunday, October 18. If any Walton's fans in the area are interested, and would like to see the finished set, we'd love to have you stop by from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on the 18th.

We also have a web site, featuring photos of our Walton's contest entry.

The URL is: http://pw2.netcom.com/~dselner/open2.htm

If you have any questions about the work we have done, and the possiblity of future showings of the Walton's Kitchen in miniature, please e-mail us, we'd love to hear from you.

Thanks,

Dave and Fumiyo Selner"

P.S. the details was taken from the forum.

Oh! Yes!, Happy Thanksgiven Canada

Shirley

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'll have to have a look at this Shirley. Thanks for the information. Happy Thanksgiven to all our Canadian members. Does everyone up there celebrate it?

In the USA today (Friday) , TNN ran the episode titled "The Achievement". It was the last regular appearance of Richard Thomas as John Boy. There were a few strange narrations though. For example in the last season, the episode "The Indiscretion" in the end narration: "John Boy a.k.a. Earl Hamner" tells us that Mary Ellen and Rose never told anyone the real reasons for Ike & CoraBeth's temporary separation. If they did not tell a soul, then how can John Boy - Earl tell us that they never told?

Well, I guess all the narrations seemed a bit strange when John Boy was giving his overviews of Waltons Mountain from NYC or later from the WW II battlefields of Western Europe. I guess he had ESWP ( extra sensory Walton perception).

If you can get passed the "narration" problem, the show still works with the other 6 kids. What I really missed was the input of the grandparents. At this point in the run, Grandma has already taken her stroke and will be on once in a while.

Grandpa will finish out his last season (before Will Geer's untimely death in April 1978) without Grandma, except for the all too brief one-episode reunion at the last episode of the 6th season "Grandma Comes Home".

These were strong, loving characters. They were the grandparents that we all wanted and needed. I truly applaud Ellen Corby for coming back to the show with her limitations and being the TV grandmother to all of us. I do, though, miss the two grandparents together, bickering and loving.

Ellen Corby and Will Geer - you brought so much to our lives.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I thoroughly agree with you. It's fun to look back on the narrations and see which ones don't work when you've seen later episodes. These sorts of discrepancies don't worry me at all.