Hi everyone,

The digest is a little late coming this week, because I simply haven't been able to get onto the computer! James has finals over the next two weeks and he has been busily making "cheat sheets" for his Maths Methods exam on Wednesday. In case you're wondering, a "cheat sheet" over here is an A4 sheet of paper which can be printed on both sides. It can contain anything related to maths that you like, but mostly important formulae and examples of how to set things out. In my day we had to remember all the formulae we needed to use. Anyway he's finished doing that now and has his head in his books down in his bedroom now.

Tim has also finished for the year now, and will go back in March next year. James finishes his exams late next week, but then has 2 weeks of Transition. It's for students going from Year 11 into Year 12. Because Year 12 is such an intensive year here, the school sets some time at the end of the previous year, where students and teachers get together and talk about the course for next year. The teachers might also set some work, or readings to be done over the holidays, so that the classes can get right into it when school resumes. This year some of the students and teachers are also setting time aside to start producing the play which the Year 12's will be studying in English. They intend putting it on early next year so that all the Year 12 students can actually see it performed whilst they are studying the text. I think it's a great idea, and James will be busily involved in preparing that too.

As for Rod and I, well it's a long, long weekend over here for us both. Melbourne Cup Day is tomorrow and we both have today (Monday) off work as well. Many schools choose to close on the Monday, although it isn't officially a holiday, and many businesses also close. It makes a nice break.

I'm glad to see some reports for the Reunion coming in. It seems like a great time was had. I caught up with the story about poor Michael Learned being stranded at an airport and not being able to make it. I can just imagine Carolyn's (Grinnell) horror when she discovered that she might not have her special luncheon guest arrive at all! How awful. Check the story out on the Waltons Forum if you haven't seen it yet.

Talk to you all again next week,

Goodnight all,

Karen.

Hi Tammy and all,

Yes, the episode where Olivia's deceased friend's son, Luke, comes to stay for awhile, is "The Ghost Story". I have this on tape and it really is a good episode. I don't recall watching this one back in the 70s.

Nancy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes, I have this one on tape too, and really enjoyed it. Grandma and Olivia are so funny about the Ouija board.

Hi Karen and all,

I especially enjoyed hearing about Joyce's (from Boones Mill, VA) growing up years in Vermont. It sounds wonderful!! By the way Joyce, where is Boone's Mill? I live in Virginia, and that's one I haven't heard of.

I was in Charlottesville last week end too, although I did not go to the reunion. I was at nearby Mitchie Tavern having lunch, and picking apples at a local apple orchard. It was a gorgeous Virginia fall day, so I'm sure the people at the reunion had lovely weather for their visit.

Nancy

KAREN'S COMMENT: It sounds as if you had a lovely day too Nancy.

Bill, I very much enjoyed the family tree you put together on your web site. What a lot of work you have put into that! One question - is the name Roan Walton or Rome Walton? I always thought it was the latter, but I very easily could be mistaken.

Thanks!

KAREN'S COMMENT: I always thought it was Rome Walton too.

Hi Karen,

One thing I'd like to know is did Richard Thomas ever take up writing in real life? He seemed like such a prolific writer on the show.

Nicole

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well Nicole, the talented Richard is a published author! He has had at least one book of poetry published.

KAREN,

Sad to say I missed Judy's bit on TNN. What can you tell me about it?

I was in Schuyler many years ago, before the Museum…visited Ike's, the Dew Drop, Ma Hamner's house, soapstone quarry, and fished where Grandpa Walton did on the Rockfish River. (Trivia) Who wrote the poem which Grandpa quotes about 'Annabelle Lee". I too have the Trivia book.

I recall only one daughter of Olivia's deceased friend who married there in "Shivaree", later returned to mourn the loss of her young husband.

I, too, have made the Walton's family tree, and would like to compare notes on its accuracy. I love them all because they are so like my own family. Thanks for the Memories. Good night Karen and all new Walton friends

RUTH

KAREN'S COMMENT: First of all Ruth, the Judy Norton chat is online in the transcript archives. Go to Chat with The Waltons and click on Judy Norton. You can check out Bill's family tree for the Walton family at The Waltons Family Tree. It would be interesting for you to compare the two. Let us know how you go.

Yes, it is The Ghost Story episode, initially shown Valentines Day, February 14,1974. Luke stays with the Waltons while his father goes to Richmond to look for work. Ike gives Johnboy a Ouija board to get it out of the Godsey Store. The spirit sends a message to Luke about a train ride but the kids can't make out the message. It turns out that the board was trying to warn Luke not to take the train to Richmond. Later it is learned that the train crashed on the way to Richmond.

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'd love to know where the idea for this story came from. Maybe something that really happened?

Wondering if someone could list any books written about the making of The Waltons series, its stars or Earl Hamner. What publications about the series are available at the museum in Virginia? Thanks.

Scotch Gray

KAREN'S COMMENT: Unfortunately I don't think there's ever been a book actually about the series written. I wish someone would do one some day, but there seems to be problems over copyright.

Just a quick note about keeping track of generations (Geri Ann mentioned she had trouble in the last digest).

It's not that hard actually. You are always going to be first cousins with the children of your parent's siblings; second cousins with your first cousins' children; and third cousins with your first cousins' grand-children.

Removed is a more difficult concept, but maybe this will help. If someone is your first cousin once removed, then he/she is really your second cousin. If someone is your first cousin, twice removed, then he/she is your third cousin. If it gets thrice removed, don't worry about it. According to most medical and legal purposes in the United States at least, marriage to a fourth cousin is perfectly safe and legal. Third-cousin marriages pose potential health problems for offspring and are illegal in most of the United States.

Jim

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for clearing this up a bit Jim. It can be confusing. To add to the confusion, children are often asked to call parents cousins (therefore your second cousin), Auntie or Uncle, simply out of respect for the older person. Therefore children perhaps don't grow up realising that some family members are actually cousins removed, rather than aunts and uncles. Even explaining it is confusing!!!!!! :-))

Dear RT Fans:

A little early for this post but I thought I post it anyway.

Here is some information as to Richard Thomas' appearance at the "Cincinnati Pops Holiday: A Family Thanksgiving" on PBS on November 25 (1 & 8pm EST). Richard Thomas will be reading a narration of "The First Thanksgiving" as the orchestra performs.

http://www.wcet.org/tvschedule/programs/popout1.html

Best Regards,

Alyssa

KAREN'S COMMENT: As always, thanks for keeping us all informed about RT Alyssa.

Hi Karen

Well, the Walton's Reunion has been and gone and Brenda and I had a wonderful time. The weather was absolutely perfect up on the mountain - very warm.

There must have been around 500 people there on the Saturday. We queued for 2.5 hours for autographs but it was worth it. We met Jason, Toni (his on and off screen wife) who incidentally is very pretty, Drew Cutler (Elizabeth's boyfriend) and Serena Burton and a whole load of the Hamner family. Michael Killen was the Master of Ceremonies and kept the waiting queue amused with his music. His wife was also magnificent, keeping the queue informed of what was happening at the front. Unfortunately Kami Cotler was not there on the Saturday. Not sure if she was there on the Sunday. I also heard that there was a dinner for the fan club members on the Saturday night. I was a little annoyed as I had emailed the Museum twice before I left trying to find out what was happening and they did not respond therefore we went there "blind". I would certainly have liked to have joined the fan club and attended the dinner - having travelled all that way. I also learned but do not know if it is true, that Michael Learned was to be at the dinner. The fan club is not promoted on the website and it is not really known of over here. I know we have a UK fan club and it is my intention to join that now so that I might be privvy to more information. Having said all that, it was well worth the trip. I have all the autographs on a Walton's Mountain cloth place mat which I intend to have framed for posterity. Next year our quest is to Nashville during the CMA Awards. How we love America.

Regards to everyone in the USA

Sue

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm so glad you had a great time Sue. I believe that an in-law of Kami's died and this is why she had to cancel at such short notice. I'm sorry you missed information about the dinner. I don't think that one is organized through the fan club at the Museum, but is done through the Waltons International Fan Club...the one Carolyn runs. Information comes through with that newsletter. It is one of the three fan clubs which are often mentioned here in the digest, however nothing has been said about the dinner here. Actually I thought discussion about the reunion was a little quiet through the digest this year too. It kind of came up very quickly and quietly and certainly caught me by surprise, even though I knew it was on.

On the subject of family trees...

My oldest aunt is 20 years older than my youngest uncle. My oldest cousin is 20 years older than my youngest cousin. My grandmother is the youngest of her family so most of my father's cousins are in their late fifties/early sixties while my father is 44.

On the subject of the Waltons...

I now understand where Elizabeth got that yellow car from...I never realized it was Jim Bob's. I believe the ninth season will start on Monday. I estimate the series will start over during December sometime.

Goodnight all, Hayley

KAREN'S COMMENT: You might get some good eps over Thanksgiving too Hayley.

Hello Karen,

I want to let you know about an update to my website. I have added a few photos from the October 2000 Reunion. Go to Brenda's Waltons Web Site and click on the link that says Reunion 2000. Also, for folks interested in the Waltons quilt project that was started by some ladies who met one one another on the Waltons forum, click on the link that says Waltons Quilt.

Brenda

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for the link Brenda. Looks like you had a great time too. Jon W's little girl looks just gorgeous, and I must say that Tony Becker is very nice looking too! The quilt idea is just lovely I think. I've been reading a bit about it on the Forum recently. What a wonderful prize it will be for some lucky person.