The Waltons - General Discussion

[LadyIrony]

On 12/28/2022 at 5:55 AM, Gharlane said:

I thought they attempted to "colorize" the footage by showing it in sepia, which was in some ways worse than showing the original b&w footage.

Maybe that was what they were thinking. It did look weird and then throwing some burning paper at him to make it look authentic lol. 

[Blergh]

6 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

I always liked the development of Mary Ellen's character to go form tomboy to nurse/loving wife/mother

Yeah, but she never became docile and conventional. It's interesting after Curt's evident death, she somewhat regained her former autonomy and even decided to become a medical doctor so she could better take care of her loved ones and neighbors despite it being somewhat unconventional for a woman to do that (especially one who was a single parent instead of one who'd never been married or had offspring).

[sATL]

I guess CW re-ran the remake of the "the waltons homecoming".  It popped on on the DVR (or I scrolled down enough to find it) . I should have counted the commercials, but I didn't - I think I was in the double digits at least.

something struck me at the very end.

Great-grandmother Elizabeth, present day, walks with her great-grandson to the family cemetery. That is what the little boy called her "great grandma". They come upon John Boy's headstone (JB Walton , writer - couldn't make out the death date)  and refers to him, speaking to the great grand-son " Toby - he would have been your great, great, uncle"

Doesn't she say one "great" too many?  two greats would have been Oliva/John Sr's brother, right? John boy would have the same nbr of "greats" in his title as she would.

Edited December 31, 2022 by sATL

[Egg McMuffin]

I think they got it right. Elizabeth’s son would have John Boy as his uncle. Her grandson would have John Boy as his great uncle. Her great grandson would have John Boy as his great great uncle.

My grandmother’s sister is my great aunt. Grandma doesn’t have a “great” in her title for me, but her sister has one “great”.

[sATL]

deleted. 

Edited December 31, 2022 by sATL

[sATL]

ok. I think what I was hearing was that there was only 1 great until the last sentence.

[Blergh]

Well, if the tag of that movie was supposed to take place in 2022, then had Elizabeth been roughly seven in 1933 (when the series was supposed to take place), then this means that Elizabeth would have been born c.1926 and have been about 96-years-old in the present day which would have been ample time for her and the three generations after her to have made her a great-grandmother to a young child (see the late Queen Elizabeth II having lived to 96 and having her heir's heir's heir Prince George having been 9-years-old at the time of her passing). Yes, it would have been a virtual certainty that the youngest of seven would have outlived every other sibling by this point.

Edited January 3, 2023 by Blergh

[jason88cubs]

I only saw bits and pieces of the new movies but it looked a little too clean cut for me

[izabella]

The movie was to crisp and clean and affluent.  I tried to watch it like it had no relation to the original Waltons, and it still was off.

[Egg McMuffin]

The original was just so well done; it’s tough to remake it. I was watching the episode the other day where Rev Fordwick decides to make Zelda Maynard the new church organist and push Grandma aside. But he decides that the family should tell Grandma instead of himself (what a jerk, btw).

Grandma finds out and threatens to turn Methodist. Rev Fordwick goes over to the house to talk to John and Zeb about it. And they think it’s funny as hell. John says that he thought he felt the earth shake a while ago when Grandma found out. Fordwick isn’t amused and tells them that Grandma needs the support of her family on this issue, wouldn’t they agree? John says, “Do we agree, Pa?” And Zeb replies, “It seems the Reverend thinks we ought to agree.” And they’re totally laughing at him and he gets all pissy. Great scene.

You’d never see anything like that in the new version.

Edited January 4, 2023 by Egg McMuffin

[jason88cubs]

I always find it annoying that when John's friend form the war came to visit and started the fire with his cigarette , Jason gets the blame even though he knew he didn't do it, gets yelled at by John then at the end when Jason says he didn't speak up because he knew he did no wrong, JOhn said he was proud of him for not running and telling

 

Like what?

[sATL]

Going back to the sex they couldn't show in the 1970s'... does anyone think more went on besides a passionate late night porch kiss between Jason and Curt's sister, in " The heartbreaker"?  Wonder what curt meant when he told Jason his sister was restless and full of discontent? Did he tell that to her estranged husband before she married ?

Edited January 11, 2023 by sATL

[jason88cubs]

On 1/11/2023 at 11:44 AM, sATL said:

Going back to the sex they couldn't show in the 1970s'... does anyone think more went on besides a passionate late night porch kiss between Jason and Curt's sister, in " The heartbreaker"?  Wonder what curt meant when he told Jason his sister was restless and full of discontent? Did he tell that to her estranged husband before she married ?

I'll have to rewatch this. it's been so long since I seen it lol. I think Curt just meant she doesn't know what she wants

[Blergh]

1 hour ago, jason88cubs said:

I'll have to rewatch this. it's been so long since I seen it lol. I think Curt just meant she doesn't know what she wants

Of course, what went unstated was whether Curt's sister had had ANY contact with Mary Ellen or even her own nephew John Curtis after Curt's evident death in Pearl Harbor (I like to keep to the theory that the whole 'Curt lived' arc was just a bad dream of Mary Ellen's while she was undecided about Jonesy).

FWIW, a few months ago Judy Norton on her channel, did an interview via ZOOM from the UK with Mr. Walmsley and Miss Purl who were in a pub catching up with each other after some decades. Anyway, Miss Purl kept apologizing for all her characters' thoughtlessness towards Jason. Yes, as it turns out that Linda Purl had played at least one other character before playing Curt's sister. Mr. Walmsley shrugged off the characters' bad actions and the two of them seemed to be having fun catching up with each other and being interviewed by Miss Norton (oh, and since Mr. Walmsley is married and Miss Purl is engaged to  Patrick Duffy, it seems they're content to stay platonic pals).

BTW, Mr. Walmsley had, in fact, been born in England but had left for the US as a young child- yet has REGAINED a British accent due to having relocated there in the last few years!

 

[izabella]

2 minutes ago, Blergh said:

Of course, what went unstated was whether Curt's sister had had ANY contact with Mary Ellen or even her own nephew John Curtis after Curt's evident death in Pearl Harbor (I like to keep to the theory that the whole 'Curt lived' arc was just a bad dream of Mary Ellen's while she was undecided about Jonesy).

Has there ever been any explanation for what exactly that was about, and why the writers would write that plot line?

[Blergh]

I'm not really sure- and I don't think they gave Miss Norton any detailed explanation but she has said that she HATED that arc and wished it hadn't been done.

[sATL]

16 hours ago, Blergh said:

Of course, what went unstated was whether Curt's sister had had ANY contact with Mary Ellen or even her own nephew John Curtis after Curt's evident death in Pearl Harbor (I like to keep to the theory that the whole 'Curt lived' arc was just a bad dream of Mary Ellen's while she was undecided about Jonesy).

but then there will no John Curtis... "THE grandchild "

16 hours ago, Blergh said:

 

FWIW, a few months ago Judy Norton on her channel, did an interview via ZOOM from the UK with Mr. Walmsley and Miss Purl who were in a pub catching up with each other after some decades. Anyway, Miss Purl kept apologizing for all her characters' thoughtlessness towards Jason. Yes, as it turns out that Linda Purl had played at least one other character before playing Curt's sister. Mr. Walmsley shrugged off the characters' bad actions and the two of them seemed to be having fun catching up with each other and being interviewed by Miss Norton

 

one of my all time funnies was when Mary Ellen admitted, to Jason behind the barn, to taking uppers to study for the nursing board. She said " so what if I am!".... , as if nothing was wrong with doing that..Jason looked like he seen a ghost.

It was nice of him to stay up with her and Olivia in the living room, while she came down off her high. Some brothers would have been .." she got herself in this mess, I took of work to get her home and well, I'm off to my comfortable bed'.

7 minutes ago, sATL said:

I guess the nursing exam isn't the biggest beast anymore - I know too many nurses, of al levels who passed. Yes - they hit the books but non seem to felt the need or thought to do all nighters - they just studied  few hours each day, taking off a day or so during the time.

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by sATL

[Egg McMuffin]

On 1/14/2023 at 6:16 PM, jason88cubs said:

I'll have to rewatch this. it's been so long since I seen it lol. I think Curt just meant she doesn't know what she wants

That’s one I have a tough time rewatching due to the nails-on-a-blackboard Southern accent that Linda Purl attempts as Curt’s sister. And they never explain why the sister speaks like she’s trying out for Gone with the Wind, while Curt has no such accent whatsoever.

[Blergh]

1 hour ago, Egg McMuffin said:

That’s one I have a tough time rewatching due to the nails-on-a-blackboard Southern accent that Linda Purl attempts as Curt’s sister. And they never explain why the sister speaks like she’s trying out for Gone with the Wind, while Curt has no such accent whatsoever.

Besides, Curt unquestionably DID sire John Curtis before he . ..departed.

[methodwriter85]

On 1/14/2023 at 8:27 PM, Blergh said:

I'm not really sure- and I don't think they gave Miss Norton any detailed explanation but she has said that she HATED that arc and wished it hadn't been done.

Judy Norton and Mary McDonough have been pretty honest about the fact that they really just didn't get listened to much by the writers, even when they would try to do things like inform them on how many kids such and such characters were supposed to have. That's where you got the really bad continuity errors in the reunion movies because the writers just really didn't give a shit.

Edited January 29, 2023 by methodwriter85

[Katy M]

On 1/29/2023 at 4:02 AM, methodwriter85 said:

Judy Norton and Mary McDonough have been pretty honest about the fact that they really just didn't get listened to much by the writers, even when they would try to do things like inform them on how many kids such and such characters were supposed to have. That's where you got the really bad continuity errors in the reunion movies because the writers just really didn't give a shit.

Eric Scott also said that he was basically told to shut up when he pointed out that Ben and Cindy had a son and that nobody would notice.

[jason88cubs]

I love "The Dust Bowl Cousins"

 

probably my favorite

[Blergh]

23 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

I love "The Dust Bowl Cousins"

 

probably my favorite

Too bad Zeb,etc.  didn't think to sick Martha Corrine on Ham and Job after all the havoc they reaped on Ike, John-Boy. ..and even Mary Ellen!

[Egg McMuffin]

They should done a spinoff called Ham and Eggs, with the Denbys running a chicken farm in upstate New York, where they wound up settling.

[jason88cubs]

I like the episode(The Minstrel) where Mary Ellen says John is dumb and Olivia lets her get away with it but if any of the boys raise their voice to Olivia all hell breaks loose

[methodwriter85]

Judy Norton has written that on her YouTube page that she's going to stop new content while the strike is happening. I can't tell if this is just her acting in solidarity, or if she actually can't. 

I would think it would just be a gesture of solidarity, because it seems insane that she can't do vlogs about a t.v. show she did 40-50 years ago, but then there's this bit from a Vanity Fair article:

What won’t be permitted is promotion of work done under TV and theatrical contracts—which means that as long as the strike continues, actors won’t be able to boost their film and television work through photo shoots, interviews, social media posts, or press of any kind. They won’t be able to attend premieres or awards shows, either.

This doesn't seem to specify projects that are recently made, so I think Judy might actually be contractually obligated to not make any social media posts that promote any tv show she did, even if it came out 50 years ago. Because technically, her social media vlogs do promote the Waltons, which is still available on streaming services.

I do feel bad for Judy Norton, because she's a 60-something woman getting to connect with her fans from her youth, and there's something very sweet about that. I've found her vlogs very relaxing to watch and listen to. 

[merylinkid]

Interesting, because ComicCon is still on and actors are attending.   SOme will be doing their meet and greets, which face it, the fans are only meeting them and paying for an autograph/picture with because of the actor's work.   

[jason88cubs]

I like her youtube videos, thats to bad

[methodwriter85]

On 7/17/2023 at 8:17 AM, merylinkid said:

Interesting, because ComicCon is still on and actors are attending.   SOme will be doing their meet and greets, which face it, the fans are only meeting them and paying for an autograph/picture with because of the actor's work.   

If you're just signing autographs and greeting fans, I believe that's okay, but Q and A's are no-no's. Judy Norton is still doing fan events, but I believe she's not allowed to do her YouTube videos because that would be promoting struck work.

[sATL]

On 7/15/2023 at 5:36 AM, methodwriter85 said:

Judy Norton has written that on her YouTube page that she's going to stop new content while the strike is happening. I can't tell if this is just her acting in solidarity, or if she actually can't. 

I would think it would just be a gesture of solidarity, because it seems insane that she can't do vlogs about a t.v. show she did 40-50 years ago, but then there's this bit from a Vanity Fair article:

What won’t be permitted is promotion of work done under TV and theatrical contracts—which means that as long as the strike continues, actors won’t be able to boost their film and television work through photo shoots, interviews, social media posts, or press of any kind. They won’t be able to attend premieres or awards shows, either.

This doesn't seem to specify projects that are recently made, so I think Judy might actually be contractually obligated to not make any social media posts that promote any tv show she did, even if it came out 50 years ago. Because technically, her social media vlogs do promote the Waltons, which is still available on streaming services.

I do feel bad for Judy Norton, because she's a 60-something woman getting to connect with her fans from her youth, and there's something very sweet about that. I've found her vlogs very relaxing to watch and listen to. 

I guess for Judy to be taking the high road and putting her YT content on pause (which is very common anyway among YT-content creators), I do applaud her and makes me like her more. I can use the time to catch up on the vlogs I haven't seen.

With that said - I do agree that there should be a statue of limitations on "work promotion". Current and future shows, yes.... maybe something done in the past 3 years, possibly. but "work" that was done 40+ years ago that is rerunning for free at least on one channel (whose sole existence/premise is oldie tv shows), when one was a minor, and a 1/3 of the main cast is deceased, no. Not a violation.

Let me take a peek to see what is the most recent tv show series that comes on MeTV- surely it can't be MASH.. Possibly "In the Heat of the Night"..

Edited July 28, 2023 by sATL

[methodwriter85]

Judy talks more about the situation here. She's been trying to contact SAG about what is and isn't okay.

 

[Linda956]

I never watched The Waltons when it first aired but recently watched the entire series and all 5 movies on the Hallmark Drama Channel. I really enjoyed the series a great deal but by the time they got to the mftv movies, they really didn't give a damn.  It's like the showrunners couldn't be bothered to check the storylines from the beginning going forward on all the characters and just wrote whatever they wanted. I'm surprised about this because Earl Hamner was still involved with the series and you think he would have been a stickler for detail.    The things that really stick in my mind are the fact that John Curtis has disappeared.  It's like he never existed.  The only reason I can think of is that given the fact that John Curtis was born in 1940/41, by the time the movies came out, he would have been between 25-30, which would have made Mary Ellen seem quite old.  Even saying he was away in Vietnam would have aged Mary Ellen and her son given that the children she had in the films were all young.  Also, how did she have additional children when she was told in the 2nd tv movie after her accident that she couldn't have any more children and would die if she did. Also, they explained that her husband Jonesy was in Vietnam.  By the time of those movies, it was the mid 1960's.  Jonesy would have been in his mid 40's at the very least.  What would he be doing in Vietnam when Jason, Ben and Jim-Bob were at home?  Why didn't they go as well?  Also, they never explained what happened to Ginny Walton.  What caused her to die and what happened with Erin and her husband.  All they said was that he cheated on her and they divorced. It's really a slap in the face for people who have watched the entire series.  Do they honestly think the fans would forget what happened or not want details.

[Egg McMuffin]

Judy Norton has said on her Youtube channel that the cast members brought up these inconsistencies with the producers when filming the 1990s movies. And the writers/producers insisted that the audience wouldn’t notice or care.

[Blergh]

On 8/15/2023 at 9:22 PM, Egg McMuffin said:

Judy Norton has said on her Youtube channel that the cast members brought up these inconsistencies with the producers when filming the 1990s movies. And the writers/producers insisted that the audience wouldn’t notice or care.

Eric Scott (Ben) said that he himself tried to remind the newer writers about the existence of his character's baby son Charlie and plead with them to at least have him and the other family members mention the missing characters' whereabouts if the writers  didn't want to have them depicted. ..but was curtly told that the audience wouldn't know/care  about the entire family tree with the warning of 'don't be difficult' ( the barely concealed warning that his rep as a performer would get sabotaged if he didn't clam up)

Thankfully, he  built up what turned out to be a very successful parcel delivery service . Thus, he wound up prospering after his acting career had waned in his early 20's.

Edited August 19, 2023 by Blergh

[Inkspells]

I have never understood the idea that audiences dont notice. Even when I watched shows as a kid week to week or syndicated as a child I would notice if there was inconsistences. I am 28 and I started watching the waltons when I was in middle school due to having got some of the dvd copies, I remember being very annoyed with inconsistences in the show, especially in season 4 when they brought AJ back. I was like the tagline in his original episode said JB never saw him again. I do like though that in all the episodes with Boone they always seemed to use the same tagline of telling you Boone died while carrying bootleg whiskey one night due to being hit by a car or something along those lines

[mmecorday]

I watched "The Ceremony" yesterday, about a Jewish family relocating from Germany to Walton's Mountain. The son, who was turning 13, was upset because he wasn't going to have a Bar Mitzvah. All I could think was, I hope Ike Godsey doesn't sell Boggle at his general store. 

[Gharlane]

[lysithea]

 

On 8/15/2022 at 8:55 PM, Tim McD said:

One of the problems was that they didn't flesh out the siblings enough in the early seasons. Sure they kind of dabbled in Jason's musical stuff and Mary Ellen's nursing endeavors, but that was it. Poor Ben, Erin, Elizabeth and Jim-Bob were kind of left hanging without much defining characteristics (did Elizabeth even have any interests?) Suddenly the show loses John-Boy, Grandpa and Grandma and it was like "Oh crap, we gotta make these other kids interesting!" And I hate to say it but it didn't help that the actors playing the siblings, with the exception of Mary McDonough, were not skilled enough actors to carry a show.

They showed Jim-Bob's interest in airplanes in S2. Ben was already showing his business man side by S2 when he sold bluing to try and make money for Olivia when she had the miscarriage. But the girls were shafted. Erin had little more than being pretty by s3 John-boy even takes her to have her picture taken to prove how pretty she is, and the rest are mostly her acting like a petulant child like in the one with the pet deer. Elizabeth didn't have much but they did give her a sleuthing arc I liked and she was shown to like animals the most but not much to go off of compared to Mary Ellen or Jason's storylines.

[lysithea]

On 8/11/2022 at 9:54 AM, jason88cubs said:

Agree. When Will Geer passed, it was a huge blow

I always wonder, I think the show would have been able to go on much better if Richard hadn't been leaving just as Will Geer passed. I think if Will had still been alive the 6th and 7th seasons would have probably been much better. But then again I have a special place in my heart for season 7, it was a gift for my 13 birthday after I had become obsessed with the Waltons after watching all the episodes on dvd copies of the 1st - 3rd seasons multiple times and becoming obsessed. I was the same age as Elizabeth in that season and really connected to it. I actually love some of the worst episodes, like the artist one that seems to be reviled. I found the ending image haunting. I think the Waltons tried experimenting in the later seasons and I appreciate the episodes like that, that really tried to push the envelope. 

[reneerose]

New here. 

[peacheslatour]

On 9/24/2024 at 4:20 PM, reneerose said:

New here. 

Me too. I watched the show during it's first run and have just come back to it over the summer.

[Blergh]

When I first saw the show as a small child, I thought that Grandma was nothing but a crabby fusspot for no reason but then I found I missed her presence in the family after her character's abrupt exit when Ellen Corby had had her devastating stroke because  the show lacked a character who called things as they were rather than sugarcoated them. Thus when Ellen Corby returned, it was great having Grandma back- although they changed Grandma into someone who was far more vulnerable and had to struggle to communicate due to Esther having also had a stroke (though oddly seemed more cheerful afterwards than before).

In my adulthood, however, I've come to realize that Esther wasn't mean for no reason but had had to hold the family together  while dealing with Zeb's ways and somehow despite being tiny in comparison to his virtual gigantic size and presence, more than held her own but actually prevailed . Had Esther not been who she was, I could easily see their branch of Waltons devolving into a backwards, moonshine addled branch (not unlike Boone's after Martha Corrine's passing) but Esther somehow kept Zeb from totally giving into his weakest and  most base inclinations AND for their teen sons Ben and John to do the same. Moreover, she helped Olivia also maintain a sense of right and wrong, fairness and justice to her grandchildren!

Yep, Esther may have been the family's lemon to their lemonade but she also was their secret strength (and I somehow doubt the 16-year-old Olivia would have not been overwhelmed via being a new wife and mother had Esther not had her back)!

[peacheslatour]

4 hours ago, Blergh said:

When I first saw the show as a small child, I thought that Grandma was nothing but a crabby fusspot for no reason but then I found I missed her presence in the family after her character's abrupt exit when Ellen Corby had had her devastating stroke because  the show lacked a character who called things as they were rather than sugarcoated them. Thus when Ellen Corby returned, it was great having Grandma back- although they changed Grandma into someone who was far more vulnerable and had to struggle to communicate due to Esther having also had a stroke (though oddly seemed more cheerful afterwards than before).

In my adulthood, however, I've come to realize that Esther wasn't mean for no reason but had had to hold the family together  while dealing with Zeb's ways and somehow despite being tiny in comparison to his virtual gigantic size and presence, more than held her own but actually prevailed . Had Esther not been who she was, I could easily see their branch of Waltons devolving into a backwards, moonshine addled branch (not unlike Boone's after Martha Corrine's passing) but Esther somehow kept Zeb from totally giving into his weakest and  most base inclinations AND for their teen sons Ben and John to do the same. Moreover, she helped Olivia also maintain a sense of right and wrong, fairness and justice to her grandchildren!

Yep, Esther may have been the family's lemon to their lemonade but she also was their secret strength (and I somehow doubt the 16-year-old Olivia would have not been overwhelmed via being a new wife and mother had Esther not had her back)!

Yes, on my second viewing I think what you say is 100% true. Zeb probably would have turned feral, so to speak. And Olivia always knew there would be a steadying influence in the home if she needed to be elsewhere. She was a blessing in a grumpy disguise.

[Blergh]

It also needs to be said that Miss Corby herself not only bonded with the entire cast and would consider them her de facto family (along with her companion Stella Lucheta) for the rest of her life but she encouraged Eric Scott (Ben) to consider his shorter than average height to be a blessing so that he could keep his character younger longer therefore less expendable! And it worked since Ben wound up going from being the 4th born of the seven Walton grandkids to being the 5th born [after Erin- whose performer Mary McDonough shot up past him]!Since Miss Corby was a shorter than average person herself, he was happy to embrace  her philosphical wisdom on the subject- although Esther's shortness didn't equate youthfulness.

[peacheslatour]

42 minutes ago, Blergh said:

It also needs to be said that Miss Corby herself not only bonded with the entire cast and would consider them her de facto family (along with her companion Stella Lucheta) for the rest of her life but she encouraged Eric Scott (Ben) to consider his shorter than average height to be a blessing so that he could keep his character younger longer therefore less expendable! And it worked since Ben wound up going from being the 4th born of the seven Walton grandkids to being the 5th born [after Erin- whose performer Mary McDonough shot up past him]!Since Miss Corby was a shorter than average person herself, he was happy to embrace  her philosphical wisdom on the subject- although Esther's shortness didn't equate youthfulness.

As a five foot nothin', 96 lb lady, I thank her for that!

[Blergh]

While we're talking Grandma, I thought it was an interesting touch to have her hand cut her youngest grandchild Elizabeth's food at the dinner table in the first Season  even though Elizabeth herself was already old to have done this herself!  I wonder if the others who only had maybe a year or two of being 'the baby' before being displaced by a new sib might have resented Elizabeth for having gotten Grandma's table pampering as a 7-year-old. In any case, Olivia herself seemed to have no problems with Grandma being a 'co-mother' to  her youngest child at least at the dinner table.

 

[peacheslatour]

44 minutes ago, Blergh said:

While we're talking Grandma, I thought it was an interesting touch to have her hand cut her youngest grandchild Elizabeth's food at the dinner table in the first Season  even though Elizabeth herself was already old to have done this herself!  I wonder if the others who only had maybe a year or two of being 'the baby' before being displaced by a new sib might have resented Elizabeth for having gotten Grandma's table pampering as a 7-year-old. In any case, Olivia herself seemed to have no problems with Grandma being a 'co-mother' to  her youngest child at least at the dinner table.

 

This gave me a chuckle. My family was at my parent's house one Thanksgiving and seating at the main table was full so my 18 year old son had to sit at the kids table. I looked over and saw him cutting his little cousin's meat. Later I said "Aw, that was so sweet of you!" and he replied "She made me!'

[Blergh]

On 11/10/2024 at 3:15 PM, peacheslatour said:

This gave me a chuckle. My family was at my parent's house one Thanksgiving and seating at the main table was full so my 18 year old son had to sit at the kids table. I looked over and saw him cutting his little cousin's meat. Later I said "Aw, that was so sweet of you!" and he replied "She made me!'

You know, I could actually imagine a child Esther getting a child Zeb to have DONE that (and yes I think it's likely they each were smaller/bigger than average even as children and kept those basic dimensions their entire lives)!

[merylinkid]

On 11/9/2024 at 5:32 PM, peacheslatour said:

Zeb probably would have turned feral, so to speak.

Zeb did what was needed for the family.   Remember when their electricity got cut off?   He disappeared for the day and Esther was sure he had just taken off to do whatever.   He had done some day job and gotten the money to keep the electricity on.   

He just wasn't as driven as John.   He taught the kids to appreciate what it mean to live on their mountain.   he believed in work life balance.   Taking a day off from the mill to fish was just as necessary as meeting an order deadline.   But he was practical too.   He taught Jim Bob about taking care of yourself in nature.   When Jim Bob, Elizabeth and Olivia got lost one day (I don't remember the full details), it was Jim Bob's outdoors knowledge that saved them until they could be found.   He credited Grandpa's teaching.   

Edited November 13 by merylinkid

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, merylinkid said:

Zeb did what was needed for the family.   Remember when their electricity got cut off?   He disappeared for the day and Esther was sure he had just taken off to do whatever.   He had done some day job and gotten the money to keep the electricity on.   

He just wasn't as driven as John.   He taught the kids to appreciate what it mean to live on their mountain.   he believed in work life balance.   Taking a day off from the mill to fish was just as necessary as meeting an order deadline.   But he was practical too. He taught Jim Bob about taking care of yourself in nature.   When Jim Bob, Elizabeth and Olivia got lost one day (I don't remember the full details), it was Jim Bob's outdoors knowledge that saved them until they could be found.   He credited Grandpa's teaching.   

I was more thinking about what if he never married Esther and never had John and his brother. I could see Zeb spending his life on the mountain. Living simply, hunting and fishing for sustenance and possibly making his own "recipe". Abiding among the mountain folk who were his kin.