Hi everyone,

Finally my holidays have arrived. My Christmas preparations are all complete, other than the cooking of the turkey and the present wrapping, but they are on my list for today. Only one more sleep to go!

As I write this message, I'm thinking of some of the Christmas traditions that we have here, and ones that you've told me about. It's always fun to compare. On Friday James and I went into Melbourne for some last minute Christmas shopping, and enjoyed another Melbourne Christmas tradition. The windows at the front of our Myer store here (a very big department store) always does its windows out to tell some sort of Christmas story. This year they were done to show A Christmas Carol, but set it in Melbourne during 1901. It was really good, with lots of different scenes of Melbourne at the turn of the century, and including lots of icons we know of, as they were then...our Post Office, the Exhibition Building, the cable trams which ran then, and of course, the first Myer store. Partly it was a celebration of Christmas, but they are also celebrating a very important time in Australia's history. During 2001 we will celebrate a hundred years of federation. There were long lines waiting to see the windows, but it was well worth it. The scenes are absolutely fantastic. Just to give you an idea of what it's like, you can visit Myer Melbourne's windows by going to http://www.myer.com.au/new/window.asp. Have fun. I wonder if shops in the USA do a similar thing?

Our other Melbourne tradition is Carols By Candlelight, which takes place on Christmas Eve. It's televised which is great too. It's held in the Botanical Gardens, at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, and lots of well known artists come and sing carols. It's a lovely tradition. We'll be watching it on TV after we've been to church. James is singing at church this year, so that will be nice too.

As for my favorite Christmas Waltons moments. You've shared many with me over the past weeks. The two episodes I love are A Children's Carol and The Best Christmas. I love the way the whole family tries to make it home for Christmas in The Best Christmas, but circumstances keep getting in everyone's way, but they do indeed make it to the Walton home in time for Christmas morning. A Children's Carol is lovely with young Pip speaking for the first time, and the two children receiving the best present of all...finding out that their Mum has survived the bombing. The singing and music at the end of the episode make it very special and Christmassy, and I love that too. It's such a lovely day to share with the Waltons. :-))

Before I go, I'd just like to wish you and your families a very merry Christmas, and have a safe and wonderful holiday season. It is a special time of the year to share with your family and friends, so enjoy each and every one of them while you can.

Happy Christmas and goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Hello Karen,

I'm new to the club, getting my first letter as 45-2000. I just want to add in response to Leathea in ga on 46-2000. She said her friend had gotten the Walton's 1999 Christmas cd at Big Lots. I went there last night and got mine. They had lots of copies. So if anyone wants a copy, get to your nearest Big Lots store and look for the Christmas cd section. When they run out, that's it. Just helping out fellow members.

Sincerely,

Vicki

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for the tip Vicki. I'm imagining Big Lots is some sort of discount store or something?

Hi Karen,

We finally got snow here. A great deal of it too. It's raining here today (Sunday) and I'm hoping it doesn't make all the snow we finally got melt away. There are reports of freezing rain and then more rain. It's pretty foggy here this afternoon.

As for the movie "The Christmas Secret" I thought you would like this picture, that I have scanned from the TV guide here.

The movie will be shown twice here. December 17th and again on December 23rd. It's a shame they will not show The Homecoming. I had e-mailed CBS a number of times and asked if they could. But I guess it's a no show again this year. They like showing "A Christmas Story" here a lot. They had "It's A Wonderful Life" on last night. I find they like to show all the good Christmas shows at the same time.

Have you ever seen the movie "Happy Christmas Miss King" it's a movie based on Anne of Green Gables. They are showing that movie on tonight too.

Shirley

The Homecoming Website

KAREN'S COMMENT: Actually I have heard that the snow is very heavy in some parts of Canada, Shirley, and very cold. We had pelting rain yesterday, but it's not cold, unless you get wet like we did. We looked quite drowned really, changed as soon as we got home, but had to go out for haircuts, then got pelted with rain again! Thankyou for the pic. I hope we get the movie here next year. We're getting It's a Wonderful Life here on Christmas evening too.

Dear Karen,

Was it the applesauce cake that had a bit of the 'recipe' in it? When grandma was teaching Elizabeth how to make a cake she kept leaving out the 'recipe' part ( on purpose )- but finally revealed the secret ingredient.

A while back there was a big discussion about the compatibility of VCRs. Can you remind me. Is your VCR compatible with the VHS in the U.S.A.?

Barbara

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes the secret ingredient was indeed the "recipe". Quite funny really considering Grandma's views on drinking. Here in Australia we need a compatible video and TV to be able to play US videos, and I'm pleased to say we have both. I have been able to buy some wonderful videos too, which just haven't been available in Australia, The Homecoming being one of them.

Hi Karen:

Where can I purchase The "Homecoming?" Is it going to be on TV. I'm so disappointed that there are hardly no Christmas shows on for The Waltons.....they were on many seasons and had Christmas shows.......the kids these days don't know what TV was really like..to the fan that asked about The Brady Bunch...they could never compare to The Waltons...................I love the relaxing stories that The Waltons had.

My favorite which are so many, was the passing of Grandpa (Will Geer in real life) and they worked it into the show.....they never really showed that segment again and I'd love to see it...

till next week.

Patty

KAREN'S COMMENT: I really loved the way they were able to pay tribute to Will Geer through the show too. I don't know if that's been done with many, or any, other shows. It's probably a bit hard to compare The Waltons to The Brady Bunch, since they are such different types of shows. In my opinion The Waltons was far superior, but I still enjoyed both. Far more substance in The Waltons though.

Will certainly be watching The Christmas Secret tonight. Just finished watching Christmas Carol with George C Scott on WGN cable. Whenever that movie appears (or the Alister Sim earlier version which was shown last week ) I like to say out loud how my favorite version of Christmas Carol began ---in the Book of Knowledge from 1944)--- there was once a horrible old man named Ebeneezer Scrooge. What a fine name for such a wretched old man----

Todays TV Channel Magazine (the Dallas Morning News weekly) has a front page picture of Richard Thomas for his appearance in The Christmas Secret. He looks exactly like he did in The Waltons.

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: Our Richard just never seems to change does he? :-))

Dear Karen,

I look forward to getting your newsletter and hearing about your family every week now. So glad to hear that your children are having the academic successes that you report.

Corrin and "our" Aussie, Craig, were here with us this weekend, and in her stocking was the Walton's CD. She was very excited that I had found it. I think he is a little in awe of our love of this music and what it represents.

This morning we took them to the Atlanta airport to fly first to Chicago, then to Los Angeles, then to Sydney tonight at 10:00. Unbelievably, we had "blizzard"-like weather here in Atlanta and it was a picture the further south we got. They sat in the back talking about the snow and Craig indicated that it doesn't snow in Sydney and it was pretty to see. Then Corrin mentioned Snowy River and how amazing it was for her to be going to Australia. What a small world we do live in. I plan to watch the Richard Thomas show tonight, I just hope it is not too emotional because I will cry my eyes out since this is our first Christmas without Corrin here with us. I did fine at the airport this morning wishing them love and lots of fun with no tears. But tonight I will be ready for them to flow.

By the way, Peach Radio, 94.9, here in Atlanta, has been playing Christmas music ALL DAY every day since Thanksgiving and every once in a while they play a short clip from Grandpa's Christmas wish from the old vinyl record...I am going to print up the text from last week and give it to my son in his stocking...he will love it.Thanks to your reader who transcribed it! Also, you can hear Peach if you can get the radio on your internet setup.

You and all your readers seem to be a genuine and close-knit group. I thank you again for your work. I hope you and all have a Merry Christmas and hope that the love the Walton's represent is present for each of you as we, too, here in Atlanta/Kennesaw celebrate the Savior's birth. God bless...Leathea

KAREN'S COMMENT: I hope Corrin packed her umbrella, because it has been pouring non stop in Sydney according to my sister in law who has just arrived down here for Christmas. I'm so glad that she is going to experience an Australian Christmas, but I also sure that she will miss her own USA one with her family too. I'm sure she will love Sydney. Don't fret too much and enjoy your Christmas Day. :-)

Hello Karen and All,

I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and I hope you all have a wonderful day with your family.

I watched The Christmas Secret last night. It was so great! I loved it. The elves were very funny. My husband even liked the movie, and he is not as Christmasy a person as I am. When, I watched this movie, he was sitting at the computer and sneaking peeks. When it was over, he was next to me watching it. Then, he asked if I had taped it because he wanted to have our kids see it, and he wanted to watch it with them. So, I have to give the highest congratulations to RT and the cast, and the crew who made this movie. I was really wonderful!

Good night Everyone and again, Merry Christmas,

----Jennifer

KAREN'S COMMENT: Jennifer, the movie must have been great! Glad to hear that.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I enjoyed this last week's newsletter...and wanted to say that the song which was Grandpa's favorite hymn, was "Beulah Land"..."sweet Beulah land...and on thy highest rock I stand...." I really enjoy the Walton's trivia and would love to see more of it...Keep up the good work, Karen.......

My favorite Waltons Christmas would have to be "The Homecoming"....I love any of them though.....not a bad one really in the bunch!!! I grew up in a family of 7 so I know what it's like to have that many kids at Christmas time....we always had something under the tree even if we didn't have the money...I know my dad and mom made sure that we had a great Christmas....not unlike the Walton's Christmases......Now my Momma and Daddy spend Christmases with our Savior as they both passed away nearly 3 years ago....But those memories of Christmases with them still burn vividly in our memories and will always be there for me and my brothers and sisters....So please take this season and let your parents and friends know that you love them.....Tell them so that you too will have those memories burning brightly not unlike the Waltons Christmases!!

Merry Christmas!!

Good Night everyone,

Larry

KAREN'S COMMENT: What a lovely Christmas message Larry. Thanks for adding some of the lyrics for Grandpa's favorite hymn. Now that I've got the words there I can even hear him singing it in my mind. He certainly loved to sing didn't he? Perhaps that's where Jason got his musical talent from.

Hi Karen and all of the Waltons Fans,

I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday Season! The poem that Grandpa recited when they lowered the statue into the pond was Annabel Lee by Edgar Allen Poe. It is a great poem and Grandpa did it justice in his recitation. I believe I read somewhere that Poe wrote this about someone he knew.

Annabel Lee

It was many and many a year ago,

In a kingdom by the sea,

That a maiden lived whom you may know

By the name of ANNABEL LEE: -

And this maiden she lived with no other thought

Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and She was a child,

In this kingdom by the sea,

But we loved and with a love that was more than love -

I and my ANNABEL LEE -

With a love that the winged seraphs of Heaven

Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,

In this kingdom by the sea,

A wind blew out of a cloud by night

Chilling my ANNABEL LEE:

So that her high-born kinsmen came

And bore her away from me,

To shut her up, in a sepulchre

In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in Heaven,

Went envying her and me:

Yes! that was the reason (As all men know,

In this kingdom by the sea)

That the wind came out of the cloud, chilling

And Killing my ANNABEL LEE.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love

Of those who were older than we -

Of many far wiser than we -

And neither the angels in Heaven above

Nor the demons down under the sea

Can ever dissever my soul from the soul

Of the beautiful ANNABEL LEE: -

For the moon never beams without bringing me

Of the beautiful ANNABEL LEE;

And the stars never rise but I see the bright eyes

Of the beautiful ANNABEL LEE;

And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side

Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride

In her sepulchre there by the sea -

In her tomb by the side of the sea.

Happy 2001!

Karen

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for the poem Karen. It's really quite sad when you read it. There were such a lot of literary references in The Waltons.

Happy holidays to Karen and all Waltons' fans.

It is snowing here, and I'm looking to go to Florida on December 30th, to stay for two months.

Thanks for trivia responses. Grandpa's favorite hymn, often sung on the mountain, was "BeaulahLand" (another name for Paradise) His oft-quoted poem "Annabelle Lee" was written by Edgar Allen Poe.

Seth gave the (recorder) to Jason. Yes, Grandpa's cousin Zadok gave the fiddle . Zuleika "Zoe" Dunbar gave the piano accordion to Jim-Bob.

Yes, the meteorite fell into the Baldwins' Recipe Room. John Sr. was the one hit by lightning.

Tom Dooley was the pugilist who trained in the Waltons' barn. He was to fight to raise money for the Black Church. Heartwarming ending: When Rev Tom was badly injured in the bout, the Walton Mountain neighbors got together to build his church, and they attended the first service with him.

Can anyone name all the Walton grandchildren? I wish I could. I didn't catch Erin's. Was the death of little Virginia ever explained in any episode? Do you suppose they did adopt another as they discussed? Were John and Janet's twins ever named on the show? Do you suppose Elizabeth and Drew ever married-they kind of left us at their engagement. Hope Earl manages another sequel soon.

Have a great winter. Good night all.

Ruth

KAREN'S COMMENT: Such a lot of questions. :-)) I'd like to see Erin settle down too, with someone who really loves her. She had such a lot of unhappy relationships.

Hello, all!

It's been an unusually cold and snowy winter here in Ohio so far. I am happy to report I got the Waltons Christmas CD on eBay, and it arrived yesterday. I was very surprised to see what the VHS of "The Homecoming" is going for on eBay, considering you can get it for about $20 US at the Walton's Mountain Museum store!

The story about Grandpa Walton's statue has him quoting a poem by Edgar Allan Poe called "Annabel Lee." I'm sending it below for those who want to read it. I believe one of the reasons the writers of the show used this particular poem is that Poe was a Virginian, and wrote for the Southern Literary Messenger magazine for several years after the war. He is especially beloved in Southern literary circles, so it makes sense that Grandpa would be quite familiar with his works.

Happy holidays to all!

--Teresa

KAREN'S COMMENT: So glad you've managed to get the CD you wanted. As you can see, someone else sent a copy of Annabel Lee, but I appreciate your sending it as well. I didn't know about the Virginian connection, but you're probably right with your assumptions.