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Post by debgunnhewitt on Jan 22, 2022 1:54:47 GMT -5
Hello Everyone! Attachment DeletedHappy "Hopeful" New Year to you all! I had joined the forums back in the summer of 2020 and suddenly disappeared due to my dad's declining health. I began to spend a lot of time traveling back and forth between California and a very small Christmas tree farming town in Oregon and by Thanksgiving of 2020 we realized he wasn't going to make it. He went to a hospice and I stayed with my mom for a few months. Dad was in grueling pain and we spent all the holidays next to his side. He finally succumbed on New Years Day morning 2021. He was a great dad and very talented. He is the reason I am an artist. Needless-to-say I came home and fell into a lot of grief. We also had some other very hard family things happen. I can say that God was faithful to the end of my dad's life and faithful to me as I pushed everything away to grieve. I know it's been a very hard few years for so many and I pray most of you made it through unscathed or with lots of love and support if you suffered illness or loss. I can relate deeply and feel so hopeful for this new year that things will turn around for many. I hope to make new friends here and be back in touch with a few of you that reached out. For someone that didn't spend much time telling people about my past in the industry I am ready to embrace it and enjoy the blessing of a fun forum like this! As a kid I found that other kids could be mean so I separated it from my personal life because I just wanted to be a normal teen. I eventually became a photographer in my late 30's, going back to school and worked steadily up until Covid hit. I shoot here and there and just enjoy the art as a whole. We can definitely age gracefully with a camera in hand. To read more about me I have a website listed I think under my profile. God Bless and keep you! Deb P.S. I was excited to find this image of Eric Scott and I during the filming of Spring Fever!
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Post by ellaroo on Jan 22, 2022 2:12:05 GMT -5
Hello Deb, nice to meet you. I am sorry for your loss. Glad you and your mom got to spend the hollidays with your dad one last time. I think it's best to take the extra time to grieve for your loved ones before moving forward. I, along with my peers, have suffered mentally for the past year due to covid. I was in fear that my life goals had been put on hold. Nothing has changed but I'm trying to keep an open mind for this new year. I have to remember that it's never too late to get started on your career.
Thank you for sharing with us and the behind the scene photo you posted. I always love seeing those!
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Post by Brenda on Jan 22, 2022 9:09:03 GMT -5
Hi Deb, I wondered where you had gone. I’m so glad you decided to return to our forum. I love the picture you posted of you and Eric in the “Spring Fever” episode. I always enjoyed the episodes you were in, and I thought Patsy and JimBob made a cute couple.
I am so sorry about the loss of your dad. I understand your grief and the need to take time to process it. I have been through similar losses, and I can relate to your pain.
I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts about your experiences on The Waltons and about any other aspects of your life you’d like to share with us. I will take a look at your website too.
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Post by patriciaanne on Jan 22, 2022 12:57:51 GMT -5
Welcome back, debgunnhewitt! So nice to see you here. I am so sorry about the loss of your dad. I lost my dad in 2017 and he truly was the center of our family. Like yourself, I am a person of faith, and that is an enormous comfort. I feel my father's spirit with me as I move through life, but I certainly miss his earthly presence. I took a quick look at some of your portfolio, and your portraits are beautiful. I love how you capture people in such a genuine way. I'm so glad you've found your way back here. 💗 I look forward to your posts. Not sure if you have met Tracey, flossieskid yet. Her mother, as you may know, played the inimitable Flossie Brimmer, your "aunt." Perhaps you two met on set already? Wishing you a beautiful start to your 2022, and a healthy happy year ahead. May God be good to all of us this year. 🙏💗🙏
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Post by pinkbaker07 on Jan 22, 2022 19:47:19 GMT -5
I'm sorry for your loss. Its not easy watching a parent decline. I pray this year is better for you.
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Post by debgunnhewitt on Jan 23, 2022 14:07:00 GMT -5
Dear Ellaroo, Brenda, patriciaanne & pinkbaker07, I so appreciate your kind notes back to me Ella, I can definitely relate to the fear of life goals being destroyed. It's been an excruciating few years on so many levels it would take days to talk about. As a Christian, I know that God is always on the throne and He wants all those fears, yet we do live here in this world with all the ups, downs, wins, losses, tragedies, noise, power of influence, and on and on. Despite a terrible world pandemic, all of these seasons of life have consistently repeated themselves in history., packaged differently via technology., with a world pandemic placed on top of it all. It comes at us quicker. It confuses and throws us off kilter as we try and navigate what is good and what is bad for us. We begin to listen more to man than our own gut and it leaves a real sense of despair and confusion. As we narrow it down we can learn again to listen to our first feelings (innate), and listen to those we value in our life. I think outside of that it's nice to seek advice, but do most people we listen to in media, government, etc., or in passing, really care about what's going on in our personal life? I was thinking lately how truly important it is to have a doctor that wants to know you and care about you but even with that we feel lost in a system and then the pandemic forgot all of these other life things still existed and we didn't get "normal health care." I've looked back in history and the "power of influence" is truly what captivates large groups of people, some of it positive and much of it negative. I believe we need to take ownership of ourselves back, be faithful, live like there's no tomorrow, and be respectful of others, but do what is absolutely best for our own lives and health. We only have one life and these past few years has shown us that for sure. Fear has frozen many and I pray you feel the peace that surpasses all understanding and have faith that you are meant for more. ox Brenda, Thank you so much for understanding the grieving. It's most definitely important to go through it and not push it away. It's hard and painful but with faith we can move forward. So nice to be here with so many kind people which I believe the show attracted. Patricia, I'm so sorry you lost your dad in 2017. That was the year we took our very first family portraits with my dad and mom in them. I treasure those memories. Those moments are very rare and yes, the center of our family too. It can feel like a big gaping hole at times without him. I really understand now. God keep you and your family. I haven't met Tracey but I'm fascinated because I haven't met a "Tracey" with an "e" in their name! My middle name is Tracey! rare with the "e." I will look out for her! I had perhaps a few short scenes with "my aunt" and she was just lovely. Pinkbaker Thank you for your kindness. Yeah, watching a parent decline is one of the most painful things to witness ever My dad was such a brave man. It broke my heart to see a 6ft 2" very strong and proud man go through what he went through. Take good care and thanks for taking the time here to respond.
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Post by debgunnhewitt on Jan 23, 2022 14:23:48 GMT -5
P.S. I'm so interested in hearing if there will be another reunion so I'd love to keep up with that! I can't believe how much I've missed out on with the reunions. It looks like a wonderful experience
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Post by nedandres on Jan 23, 2022 18:02:44 GMT -5
P.S. I'm so interested in hearing if there will be another reunion so I'd love to keep up with that! I can't believe how much I've missed out on with the reunions. It looks like a wonderful experience Hi Deb and welcome back. I would be so happy to meet you at a future Waltons reunion. All of us in the Waltons family of actors and fans have been united through Earl Hamner's vision and brilliance, and our times together celebrate that. As I mentioned to you before, "The Best Christmas Ever" is my favorite episode, and one in which you appear, so I feel that we have that special connection, and your faith and hope, as expressed in your post, even though you recently lost your father, inspires my family and me to press on and to continue to strive to make a difference in the world by sharing God's love with others. Thank you, and God grant you His grace and peace as you grieve your loss.
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Post by debgunnhewitt on Jan 24, 2022 16:06:59 GMT -5
Hi Ned!I just emailed you back! I would soooo love to be at a reunion and meet you! You are very kind to say that I would inspire you to press on. I admire the missionary and especially the missionary family! It is a calling and a passionate commitment to love on people through your love of Christ. Always full of challenges and sacrifices.. no one ever said it would be easy to love and serve Him. You are setting an incredible example to your children. Thank you for inspiring me! I pray that the reunions happen again
The Best Christmas was wonderful to shoot. One of my favorite stories I've rarely told is my interview with Earl Hamner. I walked into a room with a long table and a handful of grownups sitting behind it looking at me. The hallways were full of young teen girls waiting for their audition time. I had decided that I'd "just be me" and not this forced stuff that I felt my agent and others were telling me how to be. I kept losing parts (mostly because I was under 18 and if you're over 18, and look young, you don't have to go to "set school" and you don't cost as much) so I had a very carefree attitude. Earl Hamner was very amused with me and he looked back and forth at the people with him, smiled at me and said to me/them, "I think we've found our Patsy." I didn't know what to do but giggle, shake his hand and stay very, very quiet as I walked back into that packed hallway. Yikes. I was shaking and couldn't wait to get out to the parking lot with my mom. As soon as we were outside I burst with what had happened and then said I don't believe it because that NEVER happens and she agreed! Agents ALWAYS got the calls and they called their clients and it could drag on for days! But it was true! The minute we got home my agent called my mom! Crazy stuff. He was the nicest, kindest man I had every auditioned for. He and Leonard Goldberg. That was another amazing moment. Anyways, it feels so neat to be able to tell stories and have people appreciate them! I am very blessed. It's extremely surreal.
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Post by isumpin on Jan 25, 2022 6:48:18 GMT -5
Hi Deb, Welcome back I wondered where you had gone! I am so sorry about your dad, I know grief is hard and you must take time to grieve properly. Losing a parent is so hard at any age. It's good that you took the time you needed. I too, am looking forward to a reunion, and getting to meet everyone. I did get so lucky to actually talk to My Fav, David Harper last Summer due to a mix-up with some greedy people. So I am certainly looking forward to a reunion soon. Judy Norton mentioned on her YouTube that they were thinking about it and David said they were shocked that it's been 50 years already, but had no details then. Hopefully, It may happen. Living so close I am so excited to have a chance to get to it. I love hearing stories about The things experienced on the show and look forward to yours. We have Flossie's daughter here since you left and she is wonderful and so funny. There's a section just for her FlossiesKid. You two should connect, for sure. It's good to see you posting again, I did see you on Facebook and almost tried to send you a friend request but I got cold feet I wasnt sure if you remembered our brief interaction on here. Have a great day !
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Post by debgunnhewitt on Jan 25, 2022 13:47:06 GMT -5
Hi Linda!
So good to hear from you and yes, the grief process is very real I discovered. That's really great you got to meet David Harper. I haven't seen or heard from anyone and honestly I just carried on with my life I've been married quite awhile and have experienced all the highs and lows of that, been blessed with children and a career late in life - and through it all I tucked away my experience in the industry as a sweet part of my life that I didn't think anyone would be interested in. I also carried, I guess, an insecurity about it, thinking that if I talked about it I would be viewed as too interested in myself. I really love people and carried on as normal. Yet life can be anything but normal right? We experience the craziest things and everyone has a story.
I will definitely connect with Flossie's Daughter! How fun! You can also ask me anything and I'll try and answer! I believe I am here for a reason and it's to share in something that was special and very much something that so many of us want now. We want family values and that old-fashioned quality that wasn't easy (like life) but that was less contrived and more raw. When life felt a bit more normal with all the normal extreme ups and downs of life. We still had family values, could laugh at one another, fight the good fights and experience the wins and losses of life. There is so much self right now in our country and it's sad.
I haven't made it a thing on my personnel Facebook page (I don't really talk about it - but I might...) , yet I did recently talk about it on Instagram (yet that is not the fun place it used to be when it was entirely focused on pictures and not all about everyday "influencers!" - now it's all a bit crazy there). The blessing of being here was finding out here that there were Facebook "pages" dedicated to The Waltons and also on Instagram a page for The Waltons followed me and we are talking about me doing a self-interview to talk about my time on the show. I'll see if I can get through that! Never been the type to record myself! Taking selfies took quite awhile and to embrace them has just been the joy of God! It's a "whatever" attitude I have now! I'm older so be it!! ha ha! If my rescue doggies are in it or my cat the better!! I was far more used to being behind the lens documenting other people!
You're welcome to friend me on FB - I try and keep up there but I'm a little slower on FB. I share images and words on Instagram @ d.t.hewitt - Deborah Tracey Photography - if you have an Instagram. I love to write as my mom did so I expolore that a little. It's been a very emotional few years.
I'd love to get to know you and hope that one day I will meet all the people that journey to the reunions! It just sounds like a really neat thing to be a part of. I would be equal fan of the show with everyone! So cool you live near the area! I've never been to this area or to D.C. I've been to New York City a lot (now a bit dangerous sadly) - so it would be really nice to make it a time to explore the history in your area.
Once again, thank you for writing and for your kindness! deb
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Post by runhard on Jan 26, 2022 3:57:19 GMT -5
Dear Deb,
So very sorry for the loss of your dad but hopefully he is resting in peace now no more suffering. I believe the one thing I don't like about getting older is seeing our parents or loved ones who we leaned while we were young become weak and sick. But then again it's part of life and hopefully when they need us we're able to be there for them like you were with your dad. I wish you and your family good health and peaceful days ahead and I am looking forward to more posts from you as well.
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Post by isumpin on Jan 26, 2022 6:08:49 GMT -5
Hi Linda!
So good to hear from you and yes, the grief process is very real I discovered. That's really great you got to meet David Harper. I haven't seen or heard from anyone and honestly I just carried on with my life I've been married quite awhile and have experienced all the highs and lows of that, been blessed with children and a career late in life - and through it all I tucked away my experience in the industry as a sweet part of my life that I didn't think anyone would be interested in. I also carried, I guess, an insecurity about it, thinking that if I talked about it I would be viewed as too interested in myself. I really love people and carried on as normal. Yet life can be anything but normal right? We experience the craziest things and everyone has a story.
I will definitely connect with Flossie's Daughter! How fun! You can also ask me anything and I'll try and answer! I believe I am here for a reason and it's to share in something that was special and very much something that so many of us want now. We want family values and that old-fashioned quality that wasn't easy (like life) but that was less contrived and more raw. When life felt a bit more normal with all the normal extreme ups and downs of life. We still had family values, could laugh at one another, fight the good fights and experience the wins and losses of life. There is so much self right now in our country and it's sad.
I haven't made it a thing on my personnel Facebook page (I don't really talk about it - but I might...) , yet I did recently talk about it on Instagram (yet that is not the fun place it used to be when it was entirely focused on pictures and not all about everyday "influencers!" - now it's all a bit crazy there). The blessing of being here was finding out here that there were Facebook "pages" dedicated to The Waltons and also on Instagram a page for The Waltons followed me and we are talking about me doing a self-interview to talk about my time on the show. I'll see if I can get through that! Never been the type to record myself! Taking selfies took quite awhile and to embrace them has just been the joy of God! It's a "whatever" attitude I have now! I'm older so be it!! ha ha! If my rescue doggies are in it or my cat the better!! I was far more used to being behind the lens documenting other people!
You're welcome to friend me on FB - I try and keep up there but I'm a little slower on FB. I share images and words on Instagram @ d.t.hewitt - Deborah Tracey Photography - if you have an Instagram. I love to write as my mom did so I expolore that a little. It's been a very emotional few years.
I'd love to get to know you and hope that one day I will meet all the people that journey to the reunions! It just sounds like a really neat thing to be a part of. I would be equal fan of the show with everyone! So cool you live near the area! I've never been to this area or to D.C. I've been to New York City a lot (now a bit dangerous sadly) - so it would be really nice to make it a time to explore the history in your area.
Once again, thank you for writing and for your kindness! deb Deb, I think many Child actors and Actresses Find it easier to not talk about it and move on If they can, Maybe the ones who have so many issues just cant move on and become functioning adults. I am so glad you did! Maybe people in California are not interested but There people who are. Maybe too much some times And I always say Why be Normal? lol I agree that we long for the old days because they were so simple and good. The Waltons came into my life at a time when I was struggling to cope with the loss of my father and It gave me an escape for an hour a week into a place where there was still love and happiness and a family that was still whole. I still feel the love and warmth today watching reruns after 50 years! Facebook is basically what you make it, I belong to a "lot" of the Walton fan groups and interact with them and watch for any news. I also keep up with friends back home and share a few funnies along the way. I have Instagram but don't go there often it changed and I am not as comfortable there anymore. I am so looking forward to seeing and Hugging everyone at reunions. Big hugger here lol it's in my DNA! The last few years have been difficult as I haven't gotten my hug time in as much. lol But I manage when I can. I think it's the Southern Girl in me. Who knows? I moved to North Carolina 6 years ago and I have learned to love it. It was rough at first to leave everything I ever knew and move thousands of miles away But It turned out to be the best. I have a job I love in the Pharmaceutical industry and I feel like I am helping my fellow man. Maybe when you start sharing your memories of your time on the show. You will get your our Section like Flossie's Kid. Check out Judy Norton's YouTube She does a great job of talking about the different shows and answering Questions maybe you can guest on it with her like others have done. That would be so Awesome! I have bent your ear enough for now, Have great day !
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Post by debgunnhewitt on Feb 2, 2022 19:30:46 GMT -5
Hi Runhard! Hopefully I'll get your name Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, I guess I figured my parents would live forever! Being that it was just us 3 that came over here from England in the 1960's I think I clung to that idea. I have a brother born here and he is actually living with my 85 year old mom now. It's a comfort as she's out of state. His life took a different turn and it just worked out. The hardest thing is to watch a parent suffer and I am glad my dad is out of pain. He was a proud, good and talented man and I'm really thankful I had him around as long as I did. I miss him a lot. Hope you're doing well and I wish you a good New Year ahead. I know it's been a tough few years for many and I pray you and your family got through okay. God Bless, deb
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Post by debgunnhewitt on Feb 2, 2022 19:36:05 GMT -5
Hi Linda!
Well I am so very glad we have become friends in all the other places too and that I know a bit more of your story.... and you're right - many of us just move on. I never did anywhere near what the cast members did - but I think that Earl Hamner had down-to-earth low key people in mind for his show just like what he experienced growing up. Something that felt normal with all of it's ups and downs of life and loving.
I, too, am looking forward to hugging many of you here and hope that I can attend a reunion! Hope that it happens! I think that the whole world craves normalcy again.
God keep you and God Bless you, deb ox
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