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Post by flossieskid on Feb 1, 2022 8:03:04 GMT -5
While I still watch The Waltons on the Inspire Network, at least 2-3 times a week, on my kitchen TV while cleaning (YIKES! Have I just revealed how truly messy my house can get?!?) I haven’t posted anything in a while. As I shared with Brenda, I had written a long thread (sadly - as we all can attest, I do not know the definition of the word “brief!) about Mike McGreevey’s trip to the Walton’s BnB. After much detail and including all Mike’s wonderful experiences, I accidentally hit the “back “ button and it erased the whole darn thing!! I was sooo utterly frustrated!! But, then Brenda let me know the exact same thing happened to Mike, either the same day or the next, when he was writing an homage to Sidney Poitier upon the actor’s passing. Evidently, Facebook somehow erased Mike’s entire dedication and tribute about meeting the esteemed actor and the special memories Mike treasured. I thought it was such a funny/sad coincidence, I texted Mike and he said, at times, he HATES Facebook! I know it is changing its name, but I’m not on any social media, so I don’t know the new name and wasn’t aware of Mike’s fiasco until Brenda let me know. Brenda gave me some good advice how to do my thread on my IPad and then cut and paste, so hopefully I won’t erase anything in the future. I haven’t had the chance or energy to rewrite it yet! Although it did cross my mind that “the Forum God” was, perhaps, making the passive/aggressive statement: “You write too darn much!!!!” Just a thought I was meant to ponder?! My neighbor (who bought Michael J. Fox’s house) has recently suffered severe heart issues. She has no family or friends who live near by, so I have been focused on helping her as she depended on me for almost everything for quite a while. It is so strange that I have known her for many years and knew she was a freelance assistant producer/production manager, but I never really talked about my Mom on The Waltons. When I recently brought it up, she then told me she was working on The Walton’s episode of Richard Thomas’ directorial debut about a motorcycle race. Unfortunately, her step-dad died 2 days into production and my friend Michele had to leave the set and fly back to Oklahoma for the funeral. But, she didn’t want to leave Richard, completely without her assistance, during his first outing as a director on the show. So, each day they connected by phone, quite often, as she calmed his nerves and helped him in any way she could. She told me he was extremely grateful for her guidance, especially taking the time with him during her time of grief. I don’t remember seeing that episode. I think she said it was filmed in 1974 and she didn’t remember meeting my Mom. I think that was the year my Mom started her Flossie character. So, they probably missed each other by mere weeks. It truly is a small world and I am always thrilled to hear unexpected stories about The Waltons even 50 years later! Some other projects have also taken my priority lately. But I miss “Flossieskid’s Corner” so much and all the great input from the Forum participants. I will get back to posting soon and I promise Mike’s visit to “all things Walton” will be my first thread. I wish I could promise no more epically long paragraphs, but, as I have mentioned before, I was raised a Catholic and was always taught not to lie!!
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Post by Easton on Feb 1, 2022 9:25:02 GMT -5
You may occasionally write "too much", but none of it is wasted.
And hitting the wrong button is so very easy to do. I know how frustrating it is to write an epic post, hit the button, and suddenly discover that your post isn't there.
A Charlie Brown moment if ever there was one.
PS - Good to see you back.
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Post by Miss Amy on Feb 2, 2022 9:21:43 GMT -5
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Post by nedandres on Feb 2, 2022 13:27:54 GMT -5
We WALTONS fans are patient folks and look forward to your next post, whenever you get to it. You might like to know that your mom's onscreen niece Deb (Gunn) Hewitt has been posting here over the past couple weeks. Hopefully you two can connect at some point.
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Post by isumpin on Feb 2, 2022 18:49:16 GMT -5
We WALTONS fans are patient folks and look forward to your next post, whenever you get to it. You might like to know that your mom's onscreen niece Deb (Gunn) Hewitt has been posting here over the past couple weeks. Hopefully you two can connect at some point. Actually Deb and I connected on Facebook she is an Absolute angel. I cant wait for a reunion and to get to meet her face to face the "Hugger" in me will attack Covid or no Covid. I am vaxxed and Boosted lol. Actually You all might want to be prepared I am hugging EVERYONE from Deb to David Harper and all of y'all in between !!
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Post by patriciaanne on Feb 2, 2022 19:13:57 GMT -5
Tracey, welcome back!! I always enjoy your posts -- the longer the better!!! How kind of you to help out your neighbor. I hope she recovers. 💗 I, too, have lost long posts or emails. Such a frustrating experience. I think Brenda's suggestion is a good one, though.
Looking forward to future posts! 😉
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Post by debgunnhewitt on Feb 2, 2022 19:55:08 GMT -5
Hi Tracey, First of all I'm always excited to meet a Tracey with the "e" in it! My middle name is Tracey I'm introducing myself for the first time to your special corner of the forum. I played the first Patsy Brimmer to "Aunt Flossie." My name at the time Debbie Gunn I go by Deborah Tracey Hewitt and have been a professional photographer for many years and use my first and middle name for that. After reading your post here I just want to say how completely lovely that you are taking care of your neighbor and what a small world. "Six degrees of separation" they say. In all the quiet corners of the world it's always my hope that this is what we are doing. Looking out for one another. It's been such a hard few years with getting care for all the other health issues of life that I continue to imagine so many people isolated and trying on their own. As a 61 year old watching the generation of my children I am not seeing the kind of care/time we gave to our parents and it's dismaying. So, we look out for each other, and stay as strong as possible. I am looking forward to going through the threads and reading about your life growing up with an actress for a mom. I imagine it to be about as normal as she could make it. As I have met a few people here and other social media places it has occurred to me that Earl Hamner more than likely cast as down-to-earth people as he could find to represent his life growing up. He was a very special man and out of every audition I went on he was the kindest and took a great interest. Something I'm not sure I shared was that he cast me right then and there with so many "Patsys" waiting in the lobby. He said to everyone in the room "I think we've found our Patsy." I didn't know what to do. I walked out of the room, saw my mom's face and all the faces waiting feeling torn and waited until we got to the car to burst out in excitement telling her. We really didn't believe it but the call came from Mary Grady that evening. I didn't get to work for too long with your mom on set, but I did take a small car ride in a scene with her and I just remember her as being sweet. Everyone loved her. Wishing you rest and peace in the midst of all you have going on and a hopeful, happy new year, Deb
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Post by flossieskid on Feb 3, 2022 7:10:18 GMT -5
Gosh, I so appreciate the warm welcome back from so many kind Walton fans. Plus, what a special treat, Deb, that I have made a connection with my Mom’s “niece”! My family accuses me of what they have determined is my “global amnesia”. They accuse me of having the worse memory in history! So, sadly, I don’t recall any scene with you and my Mom. I just remember the lovely story that Claire Whitaker wrote about Flossie’s niece bringing Olivia a ring Flossie wanted her to have after she died. As you may read in one of my previous threads, the story is based on fact. I gave Claire a special silver and tourquoise ring of my Mom’s after her death. I knew Claire would like it, but it was so touching when I saw Claire write about it in an episode.
I’m glad I had a diary/journal growing up or I don’t think I would ever have remembered all the wonderful stories and memories I now treasure of being surrounded by the many talented actors who were also close family friends. Plus, I was lucky enough to have a few amazing surprises with celebrities I never thought I would be lucky enough to meet. I made sure to chronicle all those memories and the words exchanged from my parents’ experiences and my own. Life is full of so many joyful moments. Unlike my husband and daughter who have memories like a “steel trap” - mine is more of an “open weave net!”
You must have been extra special for Earl to have chosen you for the role of Patsy after your first audition. He use to tell his producers that they should see everyone who came to read. But, I guess when Earl knew - he knew! That must have made you feel wonderful.
One thing I always found incredible about my Mom’s character actress friends was their kindness and desire to help someone in their group secure an upcoming role. In those days, if my Mom or her friends read for a part and realized they weren’t right for it or would not be chosen, all the actresses would call each other and let them know about the role and advise them to call their own agent so they could get in for an audition. Character actors had that sense of comradery back in those days. I don’t think you would see that now.
My Mom LOVED what she did and I think it is another unique degree of separation that she had another “relative” who has “Tracey” as part of their name. But more importantly - they spell it “the right way!”
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Post by Brenda on Feb 3, 2022 7:45:48 GMT -5
I managed to find a scene where both “Flossie” and “Patsy” appeared together. This is from the Season 5 episode, The Wedding, and I believe it’s Deb’s first appearance on The Waltons. Jim Bob and Elizabeth were tired of all the plans for Mary Ellen’s wedding, so they made a pact to never fall in love or get married. Then Mrs. Brimmer’s niece came to stay with her, so she introduced her to the Walton children, and Jim Bob was smitten. I believe later in the episode, Elizabeth pushed both Jim Bob and Patsy into Drucilla’s pond when she caught them kissing.
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Post by Easton on Feb 3, 2022 9:13:19 GMT -5
I believe later in the episode, Elizabeth pushed both Jim Bob and Patsy into Drucilla’s pond when she caught them kissing. It was on here yesterday. Jim-Bob was trying to teach Patsy how to fish. Elizabeth was hanging out nearby on a tire swing. When Jim-Bob and Patsy began to kiss, Elizabeth swung the swing at them and knocked them in.
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Post by flossieskid on Feb 5, 2022 6:09:53 GMT -5
Brenda and Easton - THANK YOU! What an incredibly special treat to see the actual scene with “Flossie and her niece!” So terrific to view the photo. My faulty memory did not flash back to that episode, but I know I must have seen it!
Thankfully, my wonderful cousin, Ted, just sent me EVERY single episode (in order!) of The Waltons on DVD’s he taped off his computer. He has kindly taken the time to research my parents’ IMDB pages and then seek out EVERY appearance where each my parents were featured. He found shows I never even knew they did - some as far back as the ‘50’s and even a few from the ‘30’s of my Dad as a teenager. There are so many shows that I still haven’t finished viewing them all - and he started sending the DVD’s about 5 years ago! But, what a great treat for me and my children to have!
Ted has been an amazing cousin whose research abilities definitely rivals Easton’s! I am so grateful for both! Now that I have every Walton episode, when anyone references a specific show or scene on the Forum, I can watch it THAT night and not have to place a tape request in my TIVO - most of my regular readers knows how THAT usually turns out!
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Post by patriciaanne on Feb 5, 2022 20:16:23 GMT -5
^^^ Aw, sounds like cousin Ted is a keeper! 💗
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Post by debgunnhewitt on Feb 8, 2022 0:44:26 GMT -5
Hello Tracey and everyone! I went MIA for a week as I ended up with an extreme allergic reaction to something (possibly a bite I got while gardening!) I was a sneezy, wheezy, raspy "stay-away-from-that-hot-mess" person for several days after. After covid testing (negative), starting my normal sinusitis meds, etc., I only got worse! Finally downed the Benadryl, and then Claritin and all became calm in my world. I love reading through your notes here and LOVED seeing and hearing about the scene with your mom Tracey and the tire swing! So much fun! I have no idea how anyone could have so many memories with a mom in the industry and all the friends, family, comings and goings in your life! It's very nice to meet you and to be able to engage here and remember! One of the reasons you might not remember is that my role ended up being a "shared" role. Not something I wanted but my British immigrant parents had purchased air tickets to go "home" to a family reunion of sorts and also to meet an uncle given up for adoption by my granddad and basically to "re-meet" that granddad that I hadn't seen since we left for America when I was 3. He walked out on my mom and my nana (her mom) during WW2 and never looked back, although he promised them he'd return. He didn't and the story (like so many out there) would make quite a war movie. They had no idea I'd be offered another returning role that summer and thought we might have that typical hiatus period. Mom and dad made a decision to call my agent, Mary Grady, and tell her we were going. I cried and cried but knew that what we were doing was extremely important. Mary was fine and Eileen McDonough filled that role in "The Great Motorcycle Race" (the one you mentioned was Richard Thomas' first directorial debut on the show!). I was also a pretty good off-road motorcycle rider back then as I loved the thrill of our camping trips in the dunes and the desert with my dad's love of dune buggies and motorcycles. I had this entire vision that my hidden talent was going to waste! ha ha! Finally, a role made for me! ha ha! Although my character only rode in the side-car! ha ha! Oh the drama of a teenager! I got over it and yet when I saw the other Patsy it did hurt - then they called me back! So strange but we weren't living in times where people had easy access to back to back shows, etc. so I guess they figured no one would notice too much! Sadly, since I've joined the forum and a few FB pages I discovered that Eileen had passed away the year after I lost my best friend and both the same young age Also, a few people thought that I had died. A bit of confusion. How neat you kept a diary Tracey so you could remember the stories! Sounds like you have a good "book" there! and ha ha! love the description of your memory vs. your husband and daughter! I have a strong photographic memory (maybe that's why I am a photographer and love the visual arts so much!). In regards to being told by Mr. Hamner that I was their Patsy in the audition room - I honestly didn't believe what I had heard. Mainly because I had learned that people said things and people schmoozed in the business and... I was in such a mood from losing a few parts to the "18 and over crowd" that doesn't have to do set school but looks the part of a 15/16 year old - that I had a completely careless attitude that day! I told my mom in the car all the way to Hollywood from Granada Hills with a very hyper attitude..that "I am not going to care today! I'm going to laugh and be me." I don't think she felt very confident for me that day. It was like "oooo kay you just be you!" Forget about the character!! Well, what do you know! So it was pretty amazing to hear from you that he didn't normally do that! I love hearing that your mom's actress friends helped each other out back then. I often wonder where "class" has gone. Or the security of knowing if you are meant to work you will work. Faith. Belief in oneself. Be generous to those that also want to work if the role suits them more. There has always been competition, but being generous blesses others yet it always blesses us more in the end. The one thing I see in our world today is so much self and the internet/social media has fed that. It's been a blessing and a terrible curse for so many. I'd rather be here! It's far more meaningful! and yes... the only way to spell Tracey is with an "e" of course I will be back! A bit tired after my episode in allergies and some much needed Nana time today Thank you everyone for being a bright light in my life! ox
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Post by patriciaanne on Feb 8, 2022 12:08:54 GMT -5
^^^ Deb, so sorry to hear about your allergic reaction and hope you're firmly on the road to recovery! 💗🌺
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Post by debgunnhewitt on Feb 8, 2022 22:08:42 GMT -5
Thank you so much Patricia! My sinuses are lingering but so much better now!
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