Hi everyone,

Amazing! This week we hit the 40th digest for the year. That's certainly a lot of Waltons talk. :-) My thanks go to each and every one of you who has contributed something this year. Every week I receive a letter from at least one of the list members saying how much they look forward to receiving their weekly dose of the Waltons Digest, so I know that all of you out there do appreciate the time and effort of both myself for running the digest and for each of you who takes the time to keep the digest going with your letters. I keep saying to you that without your letters, the digest wouldn't happen at all, so my thanks to all of you who continue to send in your Waltons thoughts to me, and especially to those of you who send items in regularly.

Now onto other matters. We finally have gas heating back on here! They decided during the week, that as the weather was heading for a warmer spell, we could start using our gas heating again. Isn't that logical? I'm wondering if it's going to be rationed again when we get another cold snap. It seems very likely. Anyway I'm not complaining. It's just been very nice to be warm again.

We have a nice lot of varied letters for you this week. Many of you will be preparing for your trek to Schuyler for the Waltons reunion which is very soon. Talk to you again next week.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Karen,

It sounds like we here in the states are just as bad. There's already tons of Christmas stuff out. I'm glad you finally got hot water, now for heat. Space heaters just don't cut it. I am thankful we have wood heat.

I did however (as a younger person) live with some people who had no running water (unless you ran and got it!!!!!), and only limited electricity (never used the coffee pot and iron at the same time or the big fuse on the power pole outside blew). They had a wood stove in the house, but I stayed in a little trailer with only a small space heater (which blew up on the coldest night of the winter, and took all electricity with it) and a myriad of heavy quilts. Baths were at a minimum (maybe one a week), and oh my are outhouse seats cold on those nippy winter nights!!!!!!!!!!

Despite all the minor inconveniences, I really enjoyed living that way for the 9months that I stayed (18yr olds must be hardy). However, I do no wish to go back to that again. Here's to warmth SOON!!!!!!!!!!

Donna

KAREN'S COMMENT: It is amazing how adaptable people can be when they need to. I can't imagine no running water though!

Thank you for your wonderful digest, Karen. I have not been receiving it for very long, but I enjoy it tremendously. I live in Indiana in the US, so hearing your personal messages about Australia is fascinating to me. Retail stores here push Christmas as far into Halloween as they can, just like there. It used to be they had the "decency" to wait until the day after Thanksgiving (the biggest shopping day of the year here), but no more. I just avoid the displays and enjoy each holiday as it comes.

The Waltons have been a favorite of mine ever since it first appeared. My husband, daughter and I have been to the Walton Museum in Virginia and saw the Hamner home. It is a wonderfully corny, homey, and original place. Because we vacation in and love the Blue Ridge Mountains so much ourselves, I have often longed to live the life the Waltons lived. I hope my next home will be a mini farm in the Blue Ridge. We are working toward that! Thanks again for your wonderful digest. I look forward to receiving it.

Nanette

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm like you, I really don't take too much notice of the shops until I need to. I have to say that I, in turn, are fascinated by all of the different lifestyles of our members, not only in the USA but from other countries as well. The net certainly brings the world a lot closer.

Dear Karen and a big Hello to fellow Walton's Lovers.

I watched the 'Achievement' Friday night (on TNN in the USA) and shed a few tears as it became evident John Boy was leaving Walton's Mountain in real life as well as in the show. Afterwards I went online to read the episode synopses to be sure and of course saw that this was his last appearance as a "regular".

As I wrote in my first e-mail, I missed the program growing up because we did not get the channel that carried the Waltons and couldn't afford to get the antenna that would pull it in. I am enjoying these programs for the first time now, as if they are being made now, because they are all new to me. So, now I want to know why Richard Thomas is leaving the Show?!(KAREN, do you or anyone know why he left when he did?)

Karen, the day after Thanksgiving kicks off the Christmas shopping season here in America so the stores are pretty well ready with their displays. However, I noticed some discount department and drug stores had the Christmas wrapping paper out on shelves the last weekend in September. I don't recall ever seeing it out this early before.

Goodnight everyone :-)

Mary

KAREN'S COMMENT: The Achievement was a very sad show and I'm sure that there would have been many tears shed by cast members. I believe that Richard left to pursue other roles. Don't forget that at the time, he was a lot older in real life than his character. I think it's a pity when regular actors leave, but I really can't blame them for wanting to try other things.

Good evening Karen, Nancy and everybody -

Karen, I will be interested to see the transcript of the bedtime scene from the episode "The Go-Getter". I guess TNN is cutting scenes from the show after all.

For Nancy - I certainly understand what you are going through. In 1986 my Daddy was diagnosed with terminal lymphoma. He was able to stay at home because I was able to stay with him during the daytime while my mother worked, and she was with him at night. In the fall of 1990, I had to have surgery, and I worried that my mother had to miss work because of me to stay with Daddy. She was glad of the time to spend with him, which I didn't understand at the time. Three weeks later, he passed away, and I know now that the extra time at the end of his life was very special to my Mom. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary just before he died.

I hope my husband and I are that lucky. Anyway, my main message is that the good Lord doesn't give us more than we are capable of handling, so look to Him for the strength to go on. You can do this.

The Walton's is a special show that I hope makes an impression on my children. I have four kids, 3 girls and a boy, a product of a "yours and mine" family.

Karen, I'm hope that your heating troubles end soon, although I can think of a few advantages to needing to stay under covers for warmth! We here in Ohio are enjoying what is beginning to be a lovely Autumn.

Until next time,

Robin

KAREN'S COMMENTS: Thanks for sharing your story with us Robin. I hope it helps a bit Nancy.

As one of the other digest members told you, last Friday was the episode initially shown on March 18,1977 about John Boy's achievement with the farewell to the Waltons as he went, saw and conquered on his trip to New York where he looked up Daisy, found the mother of the author of Jessica Girl Spy for Elizabeth, and then received his contract and advance for his book.

Incidentally, was there a children's book out at that period with a title similar to Jessica Girl Spy?

Hope things are going well for you.

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: Maybe someone over there can do a little research for us about "Jessica Girl Spy". Do you recall the author?

Hi everyone:

Just wanted to write in response to Cindy. I, too, am very lucky to have a wonderful husband. Congrats on your wedding to Joe. I am wishing you all the best in your marriage. With the attitude you have, I am sure you will have many happy years to come. My daughter Heidi is now 17 months, and a real joy to Fred and I. There are so many things to look forward to upon entering married life. It is sad that so many marriages end in divorce. I guess that is why I enjoy the Waltons, and seeing how much love they have for each other.

As far as Christmas in the USA goes Karen, it seems that Christmas decorations and trees in the department stores start appearing in late August. I just can't believe it. Actual live trees on lots, do not show up until Thanksgiving time, I believe.

Nancy, I am thinking about you and your family. I am very sorry to hear about your father. I hope that he surprises the doctors.

Does anyone know what has become of the actor who played Ep. He is wonderful. I just saw the episode where he proposed to Olivia's friend. I forget her name, but it was so romantic and funny. Olivia was trying very hard to get them together.

Glad to hear things are back to normal for you, Karen.

Wendy

KAREN'S COMMENT: You know it's a shame that there was never an episode dealing specifically with Erin's divorce. That must have been a real shock to the family.

I was wondering what role did Jeff Cotler play? Thank you

Lisa

KAREN'S COMMENT: Recently I saw posted on the forum that Jeff had played in 4 roles and they were listed, however the one he would be best remembered as was Pip the young English boy in "The Children's Carol". Pip and his sister were war refugees and Pip didn't speak. By the way, I noticed that Jeff Cotler had also played a part in a (very!!!) shortlived series called Struck By Lightning. Someone may remember it. It premiered on 19 September 1979 and was taken off air after only 3 weeks. The following is taken from Total Television. It was "a sitcom set at the Brightwater Inn in Maine, where Frankenstein's monster worked as a handyman." Jeff played the young son, Brian.

Dear Karen,

So glad to hear you have some of your gas back on! It has been very rough for you and your family...seems like 2-3 weeks? Anyway, thank you for your blessing of Joe & my union. I feel like I am on cloud 9 today and don't want this feeling to end.

By the way, we too have stores that jump the gun when it comes to Christmas. I remember when I was younger, the stores traditionally put their Christmas stock out the day after Thanksgiving. Now it comes out October 1st. It isn't the same.

Cindy

KAREN'S COMMENT: I trust the day went well Cindy?

Hi there everyone,

I'm pretty new to the digest and must say that I'm really enjoying being able to read about other peoples love of the Waltons, who feel the same way about them as I do.

Someone wrote about certain differences in the narrative at the end and what we actually see in some of the episodes . I remember one of Earl Hamner's narratives talking about when Mary Ellen marries, she marries a professor, had 3 children and lived in Richmond. That one I particularly remember because as a child I was always waiting for this to happen in a future episode!

What about the time shift in the reunions? Livvy was expecting John Boy when John was in France in WW1, so by the time of the Easter reunion he would have been about 50! (along with the other Walton children).

I love to watch and try to notice all the details about the house, each room the way everything is laid out . I've always wanted to live in a house like that, especially having a front porch to wile away the summer evenings on!

This week we are watching the episode that was delayed due to the Omagh bombing, The Hindenberg. There's some very moving scenes in this. I also like the parts where Mary Ellen and Curtis try to find a way of being alone together and get some good advice from Olivia.

Some of my favorites include the one where Olivia finds she is pregnant only to lose the baby and also the episode where she wants to adopt after being told that it would be too dangerous to try again. Very moving to watch.

Well, I hope those of you in Canada had a good Thanksgiving weekend. Not too many stressful moments!

I think it's just brilliant to be able to communicate with Waltons fans from all over the world and look forward to the next digest.

love Baz.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I have always longed for a front porch like that too. The episode about the Hindenberg is a very strong episode isn't it? Wonderful stuff.

Dear Karen,

Robin, in Ohio asked about the missing "Goodnights" etc in "The Go-Getter". The full transcript (as well as Bill Atkin's superb synopsis) is already on my site.

It's a great pity when broadcasters chop and otherwise "mutilate" the programs they show, programs which have taken many talented people a lot of time and effort to make. Here in the UK, although the main part of "The Waltons" isn't cut, the pre-title sequences often were (in Channel Four's first showings 1986-91), and, although in the current repeats, they have mostly been restored, the end titles are intrusively interrupted by a Voice Over about the next program coming on (which has nothing at all to do with the Waltons). This does infuriate me!

And now I have to say - I was wrong! Channel Four has just shown "The Inferno" (the episode in Season 5 about the Hindenburg disaster) which was due to be shown the weekend of the Armagh bombing. I'd thought Channel 4 would forget it, but I'm glad to say I was wrong. Though it must be confusing for "first time viewers" to see John-Boy back again, after having left for New York!

I'm reminded that when the Waltons was first shown in the UK in the 1970s (by the BBC), the day The Inferno was to be shown I was with some friends on a camping holiday on the south coast (at Durdle Door near Lulworth Cove). Finding that the campsite had some tv sets one could hire, I tried hard to get one in time to see the film, but they were all out on loan. Then one came back - but just after the Waltons had finished -- so I didn't bother. And so I had to wait until Channel 4 showed it in the late 1980s to see this episode.

You may be interested to note that we (Bill Atkins and myself) have now started on the synopses for Season 6, so keep watching!

All the best to you all!

Arthur

KAREN'S COMMENT: I wasn't sure whether you'd got up to that season or not, but it's nice to hear that you have. Anytime TNN cuts it, you should get lots of visitors to your page. :-) What also infuriates me Arthur, is that networks out here are starting to do that small screen thing with the credits, taking the credits down to half a screen and having ads on the other half. I hate it!

Good evening,

On tonight's episode, The Recluse, Ben goes off to Norfolk for work, saying that "now that he has graduated" he needs a full time job. This episode is early in season #6, and the episode about Erin's graduation is late in season #5.

Later, Fern Lockwood asks Jason to tell her about the older children, and he tells her in the order of John Boy, himself, Mary Ellen, Erin, and then Ben.

Maybe this answers this question once and for all!

Keep up the good work, Karen. I look forward to receiving the digest every week.

Robin

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well there is the evidence. Well picked up Robin! I think I'll add this bit to my trivia part.

I just finished watching the episode with the 2 Indians that come to the mountain and discover that the barn is an ancient Indian Burial ground. Great Episode!! I noticed that Ellen Corby was not in it at all.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I can't recall this episode. Which season is it in? Maybe she was just away for some reason.

Hello everyone. Hope your week was a good one. I have a question that I wondering if anyone out there had the answer to. In the episode "The Recluse" how old was Fern? In some scenes she looked like she could be 22 and others looks 45. I was just curious to this. I thought Jason was a swell guy for doing what he did. I felt the episode was a real good one. Until next week, goodnight.

Mike

KAREN'S COMMENT: Any comments about this one?

Hello Karen!! We are back from Schuyler Virginia and had a wonderful time!! We had great weather (except for a few sprinkles one day) and loved the new exhibits at the museum. This year we explored more of the region south of Schuyler. There's nothing like driving down a back road, in the middle of nowhere for miles and miles without passing a single car !!! I kept pointing out to my husband, as the leaves were falling, that there's that "shower of golden leaves" just like Miss Emily says!!! We ate at the Dew Drop Inn (twice). Can't get enough of their "slow-cooked" pork barbecue. If anyone is travelling in the Scottsville, Virginia area, I would highly recommend eating there, you will not regret it !!! The waitress let us take home one of their menus for my collection of Walton's memorabilia.

I would highly recommend that every Walton's fan make the trip to the area at least once in their lifetime. I can't wait until our anniversary next year. Instead of Charlottesville, we are staying at a place further south from Schuyler and renting a cabin in the woods since it will be our 5th anniversary (and our 5th trip to Schuyler). We found the place during our travels last week. It's about an hour from Schuyler but is so remote and peaceful that it's hard to believe places like that still exist untouched.

Thanks for having a place for me to talk about the Walton's. My friends think that we are crazy to spend our anniversary in the same place every year. They don't watch the show like I do (faithfully every night, I even turn on the answering machine because I do not want to be disturbed !). It's great to have a group of people around the world that know exactly how I feel about the Walton's. Well, I've gone on long enough for now. If anyone ever needs any info on the Schuyler area, I would be happy to give them whatever info they need (I have it all) !!!

Thanks Karen and Goodnight around the world !!!

Sharon

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think it would be a wonderful, peaceful place for your anniversary. Glad you had a great time.

Hi Karen,

I'm curious about something. I noticed while watching "The Recluse" on Wednesday and "The Seashore" today that the scenes shown in the teaser (the snippets from the show that come on before the opening credits) are not shown in the actual episode. The teaser for "The Recluse" was a scene with Grandpa getting into a car (he was hitchhiking) and telling the stranger that his son had just kicked him out. In the episode, we saw him walk out of the mill, hitchhiking on the road and a car that kept going, then suddenly he was in Norfolk talking to Ben.

In "The Seashore", the teaser was of Grandpa and John in front of a pier and Jim Bob coming up and showing them the broken lost oar. In the episode the scene is of Grandpa and John putting up the screen porch and Jim Bob showing them the oar.

I can't say I've been making a point of watching for this all along, but I know that they have been pretty good about showing these scenes up until now. I was wondering if TNN is suddenly cutting them out or if they weren't ever in there. Perhaps someone who taped them from a different channel could look and see?

Thanks,

Larissa

KAREN'S COMMENT: I've never taken a great deal of notice I have to admit, but I'm sure this week will see everyone over there watching closely and letting us know Larissa. Stay tuned.