A/N: For everybody who wants to know about the Walton, Willard, Jones, Northridge, and Cutler generation of the Walton family here you are. This includes every family member from John Walton to Olivia Cutler. Hope you enjoy!
It was the year 1980. John and Olivia were sitting in the living room of their home each reading. John was reading the newspaper and Olivia was reading her Bible.
"Liv." John said looking up from his newspaper.
"Yes John?" Olivia asked looking at him. She took off her glasses.
"Can you believe that all our children are grown, and even have children of their own?" John questioned.
"Yes." She paused. "What I can't believe is that they have children of THEIR own."
"The cycle is just continuing. I wish we just could have kept more of them on the mountain." John said exasperated.
"What do you mean? All the children live somewhere on the mountain. Elizabeth and Mary Ellen are the only ones who don't and that is only because they both have jobs in Charlottesville." Olivia replied.
"Yes, but none of them are really close." John responded.
"Why John Walton, I've never heard you talk like this. How close would you want them?" Olivia asked. John frowned.
"I don't know I guess. Just close enough that we could see them all the time." John stated.
"They already come and see us all the time." Olivia replied confused.
"It's just that Ma and Pa lived in the same house with our children as they grew up and our grandchildren were spread across Jefferson County; and that's what is happening with Mary Ellen, Erin, and Ben. They don't see their grandchildren as often and I feel that partly that blame falls on us." John said.
"How so?" Olivia asked as she walked over to John and sat on the couch next to him.
"Well, I mean, we don't even know what our grandchildren are doing right now. Shouldn't we be more involved in their lives than we are?" John questioned.
"We are as involved in their lives as we should be." Olivia said.
"How can you be so sure?" John asked.
"When they want to come around they do, when they are too busy they don't. We were the same way at their age. When did we ever go see my parents and grandparents?" Olivia questioned.
"I don't believe we ever did." John replied.
"So why is it so bad that they never come see us when we never went to see my family?" Olivia asked.
"Travel was hardly possible back then Liv. It was the Depression. Money was tight. It's a lot looser now. They could come anytime they want." John stated.
"You just want to know what they are up to now." Olivia questioned.
"Yeah, I'd like to know where they are now. They are all growing so fast. It's making my head spin." John replied. Olivia laughed.
"Me too John." Olivia replied and stood up to walk into the kitchen. "I'm making an applesauce cake; do you want some when it's ready?"
"Of course I do! Traditions never change Liv!" John exclaimed.
A/N: This chapter is just to set up the scene for the chapters to come.