Simple Pleasure: The Waltons

Every Thursday, Dayle, in Texas, hosts Simple Pleasures at her blog, A Collection of This and That.

It is a series of posts that was created by Dayle to remind people "to stop, to look, to listen, to slow down and pay closer attention to the simple things in life."

Here's my simple pleasure for this week:

Call it corny or call it lame, this week's simple pleasure, for real, is watching re-runs of The Waltons on the Hallmark Channel.

                                                                 Olivia, the Mom               

                                                                 John, the Pop

The show has no sex, no violence,  and no "f" words yet it captures the hearts of thousands of people. It's just the simple story of a large family and all the catastrophes, struggles, joys, and experiences they have on the mountain where they live. To me, it is the epitome of heartwarming.

                                              John Boy, the asiring writer (played by Richard Thomas)

It's family drama at its best.  It takes place in a simpler time, has great values and morals, and spins tales that mesmerize. Why can't they make shows nowadays that are as endearing as the Waltons?

                                                   Grandpa Zeb ("gruff exterior, soft heart")

                                                              Grandma (Matriarch) Esther

There are seven Walton  kids, each with his or her own unique, distinct personality: (John Boy, Mary Ellen, Jason, Jim Bob, Ben, Erin, and Elizabeth); a charming, pretty, but tough mom, Olivia, and a simple,honest,  hard-working pop, John;  and tough ol' bird  but loving, Grandma Esther, and warm-hearted jokester, Grandpa Zeb, all living in a big old house in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virgina. Okay, admittedly, I love every single one of those characters!

The series ran from 1972 to 1981 and racked up quite a few Emmys. Earl Hamner, Jr., a professional writer,  created the show based on his own life experiences growing up in a family of eight children near Schuyler, Virginia.  In the Waltons series, John Boy, the eldest son (played by Richard Thomas), is also an aspiring writer.


The colorful Baldwin sisters                                                                                Little brother, Jim Bob

                                                                                          

                            Cora Beth Godsey, Ike's wife



Ike Godsey, general store proprietor


The show has an entire host of great characters who can make a viewer laugh, cry, and sometimes do both in one show.  For instance, who could forget the Waltons cousin, Cora Beth, and  the colorful character, Ike Godsey, (he runs the general store) and the totally zany yet charming spinster Baldwin sisters, Mamie and Emily? 

Grandpa Zeb is said to have a "gruff exterior and a soft heart." He plays an endearing part as well as his wife of more than 50 years, Esther.

The Waltons is a true simple pleasure for me. Forget the movies, forget going out to dinner, forget going shopping, if the Waltons are on the Hallmark station, I'm there!

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE WALTONS?    DO YOU LIKE TO WATCH RE-RUNS OF THE SERIES?