It's a glorious morning in the outskirts of Chicago. A light rain is falling; the baby robins in the nest under the overhang of the house next door are looking for breakfast, and a slight rumble of thunder interrupts the early-morning silence. All of these things have me remembering my friend, the late, great Earl Hamner. This Saturday Rewind takes us back to November of 2001 and my conversation with Earl about "The Waltons" as well as life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the book he had out at the time (that I still read on occasion), The Avocado Drive Zoo.

Music used by permission of the John Denver Estate.