Sorry it has taken me so long to share my photos and the story of my Waltons weekend. For one thing, others have written such detailed descriptions and have shared such wonderful photos, that I didn't think there was much I could add. But here goes.
My husband and I got up very early on Thursday morning, Sept. 27, and went to Charleston, WV, to catch our first flight. While waiting in the small Yeager Airport, we, along with some other people, noticed a plane that kept touching down on the runway, then immediately taking off again. One man remarked that it looked like Air Force One, and an airport employee stated that is WAS Air Force One, and that they come there frequently to practice landing and taking off on a short runway. So when you see my photos, that is why I have included a photo of Air Force One.
We flew to Dulles Airport in Washington, DC, then we caught our next flight across the country to LAX. Upon our arrival, we rented a car, then headed to Burbank to check in at the Holiday Inn Media Center. I was very tired and hungry by that time, and I am sure there were probably Waltons fans in the lobby, but I didn't notice anyone. So if I ignored you, that was totally unintentional.
On Friday morning, we got up and went to breakfast at the hotel restaurant with my old/new friend Peggi (weezer29). I say she is an old friend because I have known her online for 13 or 14 years at least, but this trip was our first time meeting in person. So that was exciting. I also saw some other Waltons fans at breakfast, including Kim (foreverwaltons), who gave me a laminated name tag of my forum keeper. That was so sweet of her! After breakfast, Peggi and I sat in the hotel lobby where we started meeting other Waltons fans. Everything is sort of a blur, but I do remember meeting Jane (LovesLondon35), Big Bruno, and Anne. I had met Big Bruno and Anne at past reunions. I'm sure there were others. Sorry if I left you out.
Peggi and I spent most of the morning together. We walked to the mall and looked around some, then we returned to the hotel and went to our rooms so we would be ready for the banquet that evening.
When I arrived in the banquet room, people were lined up for autographs. Since I have been to so many of these events in the past and have most of the autographs already, I just sat and watched and mingled with some of the fans. I did sort of cut line once so I could purchase Ronnie Claire Edwards' book and have her sign it.
The banquet dinner was delicious, as others have pointed out, and the program was wonderful. I will not go into everything in the program because others have already done that, and it is all sort of a blur to me right now. I will just say that I had a great time and was moved to tears a couple of times. Each table had a cast member sitting with them, and our table was blessed to have Tom Bower and his wife. He was very friendly and still had that unmistakable voice. He was very gracious in letting us be photographed with him. I was thrilled to see Ralph Waite in attendance, because other than Richard Thomas, he is the one original Walton family member I had never met (besides Ellen Corby and Will Geer, of course). I also had my picture taken with him. He was so friendly and personable. Since I had been to so many reunions in the past, I tried not to bother the other cast members too much, but I did speak to Earl Hamner once more and had my picture taken with him. I admire him so much! I also got to see my old friend, Dorothy Phillips from Canada, who goes by the name DotP on the Internet. I first met Dorothy and her husband many years ago in Virginia. She has had some health problems the past few years and has not been able to attend, but she was there this year. I got to see Karen Kearney from Australia, too. She and I share a Christmas cactus, and I assured her that it is still live and well. That is a story that dates back to 2007. Let me know if you want me to write about it.
On Saturday morning, we all met downstairs at the hotel and boarded buses headed for Warner Bros Ranch and Warner Bros Studio. I had seen the Walton house in 2007, and I got several good photos that year, but this year I couldn't seem to get anything because of the crowds. I'll just have to let you enjoy others' photos. I will say that I enjoyed seeing the house site again, and spending time on the MidWest Street at Warner Bros. We saw the Waltons church and school (one side was the church, the other was the school), Curt and Mary Ellen's house, Daisy's house, and other buildings that I recognized from other TV shows and movies. It was very hot that day, and I was glad to get back on the bus and head to the hotel once again.
I spent Saturday afternoon resting and getting ready for Saturday night. We had bought the $60 balcony seat tickets for the Los Angeles event, so we didn't stay for the VIP party, but we had great seats and the program was wonderful! Ray did such a good job putting all of this together. Unfortunately I forgot my camera. I tried to take some pictures with my phone, but they were not good at all, so I have nothing to share there.
Sunday morning, we went down to breakfast at the hotel restaurant, and saw many other Waltons fans once again. I had been wanting to have my picture taken with Mariclaire Costello (Miss Hunter) because I am a teacher and she was a teacher on TV. Unfortunately, I never did get to do that, but at breakfast that morning, I did happen to see Charlotte Stewart, Miss Beadle on Little House, so I did get to meet a TV teacher after all! I only had my phone with me, but I did get that picture!
My husband and I checked out of the hotel and headed north, where we spent the next 2 days at Sequoia National Park. When I was a little girl, I had an aunt and uncle who sent us a postcard with a picture of the giant sequoia trees. I was fascinated by them, and have always wanted to see them, so I finally got my wish. I took lots of pictures, but I have not uploaded them yet. The scenery was beautiful there, and pictures do not do it justice. I'll just say that I had a wonderful time.
On Tuesday, we drove back to Los Angeles. We stopped at the Will Geer Botanicum Theatricum, but I have not uploaded the photos of that yet either. I'll try to get to it soon. Then we drove over to the Santa Monica pier and spent an hour or so there. We stayed at a hotel near the airport, then got an early morning flight back home on Wednesday.
Now I'm looking forward to the next Walton event and seeing everyone again.
If you want to see the photos I have uploaded so far, go to
picasaweb.google.com/110664976418289113661/WaltonsReunion2012?noredirect=1#Brenda
