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Post by cinlou on Oct 19, 2015 13:33:37 GMT -5
Everyone arrived by Thursday evening and met up in the Hotel lobby for some chitchat. On Friday, some of us ate breakfast together at the hotel and others went elsewhere. The gentlemen went for a tour of Appotomax in the afternoon while the ladies had a luncheon with a nice showing of an Inspirational Channel montage of The Waltons. Prizes were raffled off and we had a delightful visit. The rest of the evening was free for folks to do what they wanted. A bunch of us went out to dinner at Shakers restaurant not far from the hotel. It was very crowded so we all couldn’t sit together but it was a nice time to chat. Friday night was the meet and greet. The meet and greet was a nice time to take pictures and chat more intimately with David and Cissy. There were prizes for everyone handed out! We had an impromptu get together afterwards! We had set up a buffet of snacks in the lobby but the manager found a room for us to sit in. We chatted up a storm, doing trivia, etc. Our own Kathy Lee acted out scenes from The Homecoming! She did a great job! David Harper joined us for some more trivia and he started asking us history questions to which most of us didn't know the answers! There were about 30 of us in this room having a great time!
Saturday morning was the autograph session and the rest of the day was for exploring. Most of us headed up to Rockfish and Schuyler. It was a beautiful day for driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains and leaf peeping. Most of us stopped at the Rockfish Post Office for some pictures and memories of hearing the train whistle blow. A train headed by while we were there.
Saturday night was the banquet where we received a surprise phone call from Earl Hamner Jr. Our own Kathy Lee was the only one to ask him a question! They showed the Inspiration Channel montage again and we were serenaded by piano music. At one point David Harper gave us a performance as Edith Bunker singing the theme song to All in the Family! David Harper and Cissy Wellmann said a few words. Cissy read a letter from Michael Learned who could not attend the reunion due to a family obligation. There was an auction and Candy Repsher Knappenberger made the Baptist Church into a beautiful cake! Watch for Candy on the Food Network’s Cake Wars in the Christmas edition starting November 9th!
Sunday morning a bunch of us went out for breakfast at Bob Evans. Some of us went home while others stayed another day at the hotel and for some site seeing around the area. It was a nice reunion as usual; always fun to get together with everyone and meet the stars. It would be so nice. Carolyn mentioned that she is writing a book about her experience as the president of the fan club. She isn’t sure when it will be out. So keep your eyes and ears open for it to come. I am sure she will let us know. Take care!
Please feel free to add more info!
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Post by Nettie B on Oct 20, 2015 12:27:43 GMT -5
Please tell me that somebody recorded David's "Edith Bunker" imitation!
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Post by patriciaanne on Oct 20, 2015 17:32:18 GMT -5
Oh my gosh...what a great weekend! I didn't know Mr. Earl called in!!! What a gift!
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Post by Marge L on Oct 20, 2015 19:27:53 GMT -5
Please tell me that somebody recorded David's "Edith Bunker" imitation! He did it so fast. It was funny.
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bev
Newspaper Vendor
Looking for waltons home painting
Posts: 20
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Post by bev on Oct 20, 2015 21:33:19 GMT -5
Thank you for the update! I wanted to attend but I've been sick and couldn't take the time off work, maybe next year. I hope Carolyn will remember me in her mailings for the event. I hope more of the Waltons (actors) can attend. I would love to meet all of the wonderful folks on this forum. I'm so glad everyone had so much fun. Please keep sharing your trip. Thank you,
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Post by Kathy Lee on Oct 21, 2015 5:40:31 GMT -5
I was thrilled to speak with Earl Hamner! Something I will always remember.
I asked him about when he was young and used to walk down the Rockfish River Road to highway (Route 29). "Mama, sometimes I hike on down the road to the highway and watch the cars go by. I wonder who the people are and where they are going." - From The Homecoming.
Every time I drive on Rockfish River Road, I think of Earl and him walking down that road. I told him that.
He said that he was touched that I remembered him doing that. He said he often did that. He said that other children did that but it was for mischief. He said he liked to sit and watch the people going by and make up stories about who they were and what the did for a living and where they were going.
After visiting Schuyler we stopped at an old abandoned farm on Rockfish River Road to peep into the buildings (it even had a two-seater outhouse). I always wanted to walk that road just like Earl. So after looking at the farm, I hiked down the road for a ways just to walk were he walked as a young man. I told Earl that I had done that and he was so happy to hear that someone hiked the road as he did. He asked what the colors on the tree were like. I told him it was a beautiful fall day in Virginia with clear blue skies and a perfect temperature. I said the maples were a brilliant red, the sassafras was golden yellow, and the other trees were just as beautiful in their autumn colors.
He seemed really happy to hear about his home town. I was happy to talk with him! What an honor. A memory I will treasure forever!!!
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Post by patriciaanne on Oct 21, 2015 6:14:38 GMT -5
I was thrilled to speak with Earl Hamner! Something I will always remember. I asked him about when he was young and used to walk down the Rockfish River Road to highway (Route 29). "Mama, sometimes I hike on down the road to the highway and watch the cars go by. I wonder who the people are and where they are going." - From The Homecoming. Every time I drive on Rockfish River Road, I think of Earl and him walking down that road. I told him that. He said that he was touched that I remembered him doing that. He said he often did that. He said that other children did that but it was for mischief. He said he liked to sit and watch the people going by and make up stories about who they were and what the did for a living and where they were going. After visiting Schuyler we stopped at an old abandoned farm on Rockfish River Road to peep into the buildings (it even had a two-seater outhouse). I always wanted to walk that road just like Earl. So after looking at the farm, I hiked down the road for a ways just to walk were he walked as a young man. I told Earl that I had done that and he was so happy to hear that someone hiked the road as he did. He asked what the colors on the tree were like. I told him it was a beautiful fall day in Virginia with clear blue skies and a perfect temperature. I said the maples were a brilliant red, the sassafras was golden yellow, and the other trees were just as beautiful in their autumn colors. He seemed really happy to hear about his home town. I was happy to talk with him! What an honor. A memory I will treasure forever!!! Oh Kathy, what a beautiful moment...treasure that memory forever. You were able to use your words and language to conjure up a memory for the man who used his words to create the beautiful stories of The Waltons. You touched greatness!
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Post by Kathy Lee on Oct 21, 2015 17:10:07 GMT -5
I was thrilled to speak with Earl Hamner! Something I will always remember. I asked him about when he was young and used to walk down the Rockfish River Road to highway (Route 29). "Mama, sometimes I hike on down the road to the highway and watch the cars go by. I wonder who the people are and where they are going." - From The Homecoming. Every time I drive on Rockfish River Road, I think of Earl and him walking down that road. I told him that. He said that he was touched that I remembered him doing that. He said he often did that. He said that other children did that but it was for mischief. He said he liked to sit and watch the people going by and make up stories about who they were and what the did for a living and where they were going. After visiting Schuyler we stopped at an old abandoned farm on Rockfish River Road to peep into the buildings (it even had a two-seater outhouse). I always wanted to walk that road just like Earl. So after looking at the farm, I hiked down the road for a ways just to walk were he walked as a young man. I told Earl that I had done that and he was so happy to hear that someone hiked the road as he did. He asked what the colors on the tree were like. I told him it was a beautiful fall day in Virginia with clear blue skies and a perfect temperature. I said the maples were a brilliant red, the sassafras was golden yellow, and the other trees were just as beautiful in their autumn colors. He seemed really happy to hear about his home town. I was happy to talk with him! What an honor. A memory I will treasure forever!!! Oh Kathy, what a beautiful moment...treasure that memory forever. You were able to use your words and language to conjure up a memory for the man who used his words to create the beautiful stories of The Waltons. You touched greatness! Thanks! Marge and Tom filmed. I have a copy.
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Post by Kathy Lee on Oct 21, 2015 17:11:45 GMT -5
Plus, I had on the nicest dress. The print was all falls leaves. So, so cute!
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Post by Kathy Lee on Oct 21, 2015 17:19:24 GMT -5
People who went to the reunion did many other things during the weekend.
A group went to Charlottlesvilee to see Some of the historic homes.
My husband and I went to a couple of antique stores. Saw many beautiful things. The antique stores in Virginia are wonderful!
We also went to Poplar Forest which was the summer retreat of Thomas Jefferson.
We also went to the Blue Ridge Parkway and stopped at Peaks of Otter. There is a beautiful lake and a georgeous mountain there. We hiked a couple of miles to the Johnson Farm which is an old mountain homestead. It was a lovely day for a hike!
Great weekend and so much fun with Walton friends!
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Post by Kathy Lee on Oct 21, 2015 17:21:31 GMT -5
Many of us brought food to share. I made eight pies. Two pecan, two Apple, two strawberry-rhubarb, and two blueberry. The pies were a huge hit. We ate them all!
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Post by cinlou on Oct 21, 2015 17:59:58 GMT -5
I loved the blueberry! Didn't need it though!
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Post by nedandres on Oct 21, 2015 21:36:06 GMT -5
Hello all, so glad that you had a nice time. My family and I attended a Waltons reunion for the last time in 2004. It has not been possible since then. I have been corresponding with Michael Learned over the past few years, and that has been nice. I saw her in New Jersey in April, but our time in the USA is limited (we serve as missionaries in Ecuador) and it has not coincided with a reunion.
I think it is neat, although disappointing to the reunion attendees, that Michael honors her family more than fan events. That is how our family relationships stay strong, when we put family before our work. That always impressed me about Kami Cotler as well.
Kathy Lee, so glad that you had an Earl moment. I had one, too, in junior high when I wrote to him and offered to write a script for the show, and he wrote back to me. I was on cloud nine and have met him on several occasions since then.
God bless you all.
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Post by patriciaanne on Oct 22, 2015 6:01:24 GMT -5
Oh Kathy, what a beautiful moment...treasure that memory forever. You were able to use your words and language to conjure up a memory for the man who used his words to create the beautiful stories of The Waltons. You touched greatness! Thanks! Marge and Tom filmed. I have a copy. Ooooo....would love to see it!
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Post by Kathy Lee on Oct 22, 2015 18:17:05 GMT -5
Thanks! Marge and Tom filmed. I have a copy. Ooooo....would love to see it! Will see if I can toward it to you.
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