Had I known that “The Waltons” television series was filmed in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, in the small town of Schuyler, a mere two-hour drive from Radford where I went to college, perhaps I would have become a viewer during its original run on CBS from 1972 to 1981.
But I only discovered the Waltons recently when I stumbled across a few episodes online and became enchanted enough to start watching all the re-runs.
Even more important to me than the location was the character of John-Boy Walton, who narrates the stories. He was the oldest of the seven Walton children raised on the mythical Walton’s Mountain during the Depression.
A born storyteller from the time he was a small child, John-Boy’s dream was to become a writer. That rang a bell.
In the episode where he is notified that he has sold his first story to a publisher, the young man’s joy explodes into disbelief and giddiness and he runs through the modest house shouting the news to his family. As he gathers them together, so he can read the acceptance letter, he trips and falls backwards down some stairs, protected from injury by the sheer exuberance that cloaks him.
Imagine being so full of joy, that you fall down stairs, drunk with delight? And the only thing you feel is, “Oh wow!”? In that moment, all the rejection notices and long nights spent writing after a full day of working at his father’s mill disappeared. Nourished by this defining moment, he went on to become a journalist and novelist.
My John-Boy moment came when Catherine Gaugh, then feature editor at the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group where I worked, accepted my story about meeting Elvis Presley when I was 13. The story I had waited more than 40 years to write was actually going to be published. It was all I could do to keep myself from dancing around the newsroom.
Inspired by John-Boy, my goal as we observe the upcoming holidays, Hanukkah and Christmas at my house, is to jump into the moments. To allow in some light even as we live in a world darkened by disharmony. And yes, to nurture the possibility of peace on earth.
Anyone want to join me for a John-Boy moment?
Email patriciabunin@sbcglobal.net. Follow her on X @patriciabunin and Patriciabunin.com