I gained a special perspective on Texas, having spent 19 years there, after living what was probably the first half in North Dakota. In my experience, the people were individually pleasant and courteous, but not uniquely so. And as with most people are everywhere, the problems begin when they aggregate.
I wish I’d known about your Austin show. My husband and I live two hours down the road but we might have roused our old selves to venture into the city. I feel you’re part of my extended family. In the early eighties it was a ritual for my family—a different husband and two kids—to sit around the kitchen table and listen to PHC. Then you featured four of my poems on Writer’s Almanac.
I re-married and moved to Texas twenty-five years ago. I have a love-hate relationship with my adopted state. I hate the politics but love the people—or most of them. We live seven miles from the little town of Comfort, which was settled in the 1850s by German freethinkers. When I go there for groceries the cashiers know me. I get hugs there and lots of “honey.”
Comfort has a quarterly “Readin’”—nothing formal, writers and musicians and an appreciative audience—in a wine bar on High Street. Want to come? You wouldn’t make much money but you’d get lots of hugs.
I so appreciate your words on Texas. As a native Texan I have had my issues with the our state choices of our elected officials. At times I’m embarrassed to say I’m from Texas bc of our politics - I have to say “our” even though my votes don’t seem to count 🤪. Politics aside there are some cool people here. I am grateful a fellow Texan was courageous enough to tell you how much your work matters to us - not just Texas but our country. I’ve listened to you and your work for decades and you’ve always touched my heart, soul & mind! Thank you for the joy & giving me a positive note about my state. 🩷💜💚
1] I grew up a Hoosier and now live in Vermont, but the intervening years were in Texas where I spent two years in grad school at UT Austin, and then two years working in Dallas. But the first time I heard someone from Arkansas called a “Yankee” I knew it was a whole new world.
2] That said, hearing about your show in Austin I can’t help but imagine one of the great missed show biz/cultural opportunities of all times: To have seen a PHC show at the late, lamented Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin.
If some of the congressman in DC could see their opposition this way they might actually pass of few substantive bills and avoid the 11th hour drama. Don't you think? Bob, an almost 79 year old, slightly right of center California whi is quite eccentric.
There are truly good people here in Texas across the board, and we had so much fun singing and listening to Ya’ll at the ACL Moody Theater last Sunday! Thank you for the kind words and please don’t be a stranger!
As a born and bred Minnesotan from the part of the state that mocks those sissies in the Twin Cities when they complain about cold and snow, I read your opening monologue merely nodding after each sentence that described the pleasure avoidance techniques we natives employ. I read it like a fundamentalist reads the Ten Commandments, Thou shalt have no other gods before me - Check. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image - Check...
But I often wonder what non-Minnesotans think when they hear you describe our stoic upbringing? I mean, I have met people from Southern California, and when they tell me what it was like to be raised with Hollywood and Disneyland in their backyard, their stories seem wholly unrealistic and unbelievable to me. My guess is that outsiders believe your prose is some form of comedic shtick. I know that you are simply describing Minnesota life as aptly as Gibbon recounted the fall of Rome.
That thought makes me smile, but I take no pleasure in it...
Hi Garrison - While I appreciate your goal of persistent cheerfulness, assigning the vibe and personality of Austin to the entire state of Texas is being cheerful to the point of lunacy. Austin is a tiny blue dot in a mammoth red state filled to the brim with gun-totin', Trump lovin', would-be secessionists that might call you darlin' , but represent every single thing that you would vote against if given a chance.
Regarding Texas, Florida, and a healthy handful of other states, I am reminded of a comment from Robert Heinlein, who said “Being intelligent is not a felony. But most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanor.”
Nope. You don't know the state, I don't care where you live. Dallas is blue, Houston is blue, San Antonio is blue. The people there deserve more complexity than you're willing to give them. But yes, the politics drive me nuts. The system has been broken to support the far right. And most people don't vote.
Steve, I liked both your comments. Well said. I was at the PHC show here in Austin and it was awesome. Garrison, you look really good!! My husband and I enjoyed every moment.
For the record I’d just like to say that stereotypes are always limiting, so everyone take a deep breath and give Texas and Texans a break. Thank you very much. 🤠
And these days my mind invariably goes to the question of what kind of place with the mythology of the cowboy and "lawman" produces those men at Uvalde and what kind of place does nothing about them.
Total warmth, that is what we feel when reading this morning's letter Garrison. This next is a slight brush with pride. Recently a good friend wrote this on a Facebook posting I published.
"Keep doing what you love! I admire you so much." Amazing. Like those Texan's who added some reward money can't buy for your presence in their back yard, the rare sentiment of respect I received for saying what we all might consider saying in one way or another, I fe;t warmth. Thanks Garrison. RR
I too love Texas. You say you hated Bush, so did I. So how are you enjoying #GenocideJoe's wars? Have you learned to appreciate the peace maker yet? Take a step back and study everything from first principles using original sources. Trump was a great president, everything you hate about him is fake news.
Trumps aims as president are completely greedy, vain, and anti-democracy. He wants to tear freedom down so He can be dictator for life. He did almost nothing good. Its about character. Hes not just our worst president, Hes the worst person to ever be president. The fact that 30% of our population are hoodwinked by this hateful shyster is testament to their deep stupidity. God help us all!
Your cult leader endlessly spews lies and racist garbage. If you're okay with that, I guess you also don't mind the way he pits Americans against each other as his main campaign strategy. And never mind that he is completely devoid of personal integrity. Despite his crimes he has always managed to escape justice. But sure, call his ongoing legal woes lawfare if that's what you must do for your own reasons.
This column encapsulates your unique great talent. Of course, it's funny, and wistful, and clever, and unapologetic (I never heard of Jimmie Rogers. Now I'll never forget him.) but it is also just interesting. The perspectives of your active and observant mind remind me of Boswell. Thank you. Keep it up forever.
My wife and I just returned to Seattle from a couple weeks in southern New Mexico, which is next door to Texas, so the cultural vibe is similar. I agree; we found every interaction we had, both in person and on the road, was pleasant. We Seattleites tend to be impatient. We tailgate in hopes of moving traffic along so we can get somewhere sooner. We spend time on sidewalks looking at our phones. In short, we are mostly unpleasant in public, whereas those people we experienced in NM and Texas were happy to see us. My early experience with Texas had to do with the military where I got yelled at a lot. But I knew that the yellers didn't have it out for me personally, so I've gotten over that. In short, I too have grown to love Texas and New Mexico and the people who call them home. But we did experience a sand storm, so there is that.
Good morning from Owatonna, Minnesota! I see that you have a show in Greeley, CO tomorrow and I have a local tidbit for you. My nephew Marek plays NAHL hockey for the Colorado Grit, headquartered in Greeley. The Grit are in their inaugural season and have unsurprisingly lost so many games the average human would give up hope of any success. It's a highly competitive, well established league. Yet, these guys hit the ice every weekend like heat-seeking missiles in search of the elusive hot win. Some prophetic visionary must have been part of the marketing committee that named the fledgling enterprise. They have grit.
I gained a special perspective on Texas, having spent 19 years there, after living what was probably the first half in North Dakota. In my experience, the people were individually pleasant and courteous, but not uniquely so. And as with most people are everywhere, the problems begin when they aggregate.
Something in my eye…
I wish I’d known about your Austin show. My husband and I live two hours down the road but we might have roused our old selves to venture into the city. I feel you’re part of my extended family. In the early eighties it was a ritual for my family—a different husband and two kids—to sit around the kitchen table and listen to PHC. Then you featured four of my poems on Writer’s Almanac.
I re-married and moved to Texas twenty-five years ago. I have a love-hate relationship with my adopted state. I hate the politics but love the people—or most of them. We live seven miles from the little town of Comfort, which was settled in the 1850s by German freethinkers. When I go there for groceries the cashiers know me. I get hugs there and lots of “honey.”
Comfort has a quarterly “Readin’”—nothing formal, writers and musicians and an appreciative audience—in a wine bar on High Street. Want to come? You wouldn’t make much money but you’d get lots of hugs.
As a lifelong Texan and liberal Democrat, it has often been hard. Thank you for seeing some good in my state. Longtime listener, too.(and now reader)
I so appreciate your words on Texas. As a native Texan I have had my issues with the our state choices of our elected officials. At times I’m embarrassed to say I’m from Texas bc of our politics - I have to say “our” even though my votes don’t seem to count 🤪. Politics aside there are some cool people here. I am grateful a fellow Texan was courageous enough to tell you how much your work matters to us - not just Texas but our country. I’ve listened to you and your work for decades and you’ve always touched my heart, soul & mind! Thank you for the joy & giving me a positive note about my state. 🩷💜💚
Good morning Garrison
1] I grew up a Hoosier and now live in Vermont, but the intervening years were in Texas where I spent two years in grad school at UT Austin, and then two years working in Dallas. But the first time I heard someone from Arkansas called a “Yankee” I knew it was a whole new world.
2] That said, hearing about your show in Austin I can’t help but imagine one of the great missed show biz/cultural opportunities of all times: To have seen a PHC show at the late, lamented Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin.
If some of the congressman in DC could see their opposition this way they might actually pass of few substantive bills and avoid the 11th hour drama. Don't you think? Bob, an almost 79 year old, slightly right of center California whi is quite eccentric.
There are truly good people here in Texas across the board, and we had so much fun singing and listening to Ya’ll at the ACL Moody Theater last Sunday! Thank you for the kind words and please don’t be a stranger!
Many Blessings.🌟🙏☺️
As a born and bred Minnesotan from the part of the state that mocks those sissies in the Twin Cities when they complain about cold and snow, I read your opening monologue merely nodding after each sentence that described the pleasure avoidance techniques we natives employ. I read it like a fundamentalist reads the Ten Commandments, Thou shalt have no other gods before me - Check. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image - Check...
But I often wonder what non-Minnesotans think when they hear you describe our stoic upbringing? I mean, I have met people from Southern California, and when they tell me what it was like to be raised with Hollywood and Disneyland in their backyard, their stories seem wholly unrealistic and unbelievable to me. My guess is that outsiders believe your prose is some form of comedic shtick. I know that you are simply describing Minnesota life as aptly as Gibbon recounted the fall of Rome.
That thought makes me smile, but I take no pleasure in it...
Hi Garrison - While I appreciate your goal of persistent cheerfulness, assigning the vibe and personality of Austin to the entire state of Texas is being cheerful to the point of lunacy. Austin is a tiny blue dot in a mammoth red state filled to the brim with gun-totin', Trump lovin', would-be secessionists that might call you darlin' , but represent every single thing that you would vote against if given a chance.
Regarding Texas, Florida, and a healthy handful of other states, I am reminded of a comment from Robert Heinlein, who said “Being intelligent is not a felony. But most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanor.”
Nope. You don't know the state, I don't care where you live. Dallas is blue, Houston is blue, San Antonio is blue. The people there deserve more complexity than you're willing to give them. But yes, the politics drive me nuts. The system has been broken to support the far right. And most people don't vote.
Steve, I liked both your comments. Well said. I was at the PHC show here in Austin and it was awesome. Garrison, you look really good!! My husband and I enjoyed every moment.
For the record I’d just like to say that stereotypes are always limiting, so everyone take a deep breath and give Texas and Texans a break. Thank you very much. 🤠
And these days my mind invariably goes to the question of what kind of place with the mythology of the cowboy and "lawman" produces those men at Uvalde and what kind of place does nothing about them.
Total warmth, that is what we feel when reading this morning's letter Garrison. This next is a slight brush with pride. Recently a good friend wrote this on a Facebook posting I published.
"Keep doing what you love! I admire you so much." Amazing. Like those Texan's who added some reward money can't buy for your presence in their back yard, the rare sentiment of respect I received for saying what we all might consider saying in one way or another, I fe;t warmth. Thanks Garrison. RR
I miss Molly too. We need her.
I too love Texas. You say you hated Bush, so did I. So how are you enjoying #GenocideJoe's wars? Have you learned to appreciate the peace maker yet? Take a step back and study everything from first principles using original sources. Trump was a great president, everything you hate about him is fake news.
Trumps aims as president are completely greedy, vain, and anti-democracy. He wants to tear freedom down so He can be dictator for life. He did almost nothing good. Its about character. Hes not just our worst president, Hes the worst person to ever be president. The fact that 30% of our population are hoodwinked by this hateful shyster is testament to their deep stupidity. God help us all!
Which parts of the wars and genocides, overrun borders and lawfare are you enjoying?
Your cult leader endlessly spews lies and racist garbage. If you're okay with that, I guess you also don't mind the way he pits Americans against each other as his main campaign strategy. And never mind that he is completely devoid of personal integrity. Despite his crimes he has always managed to escape justice. But sure, call his ongoing legal woes lawfare if that's what you must do for your own reasons.
This column encapsulates your unique great talent. Of course, it's funny, and wistful, and clever, and unapologetic (I never heard of Jimmie Rogers. Now I'll never forget him.) but it is also just interesting. The perspectives of your active and observant mind remind me of Boswell. Thank you. Keep it up forever.
My wife and I just returned to Seattle from a couple weeks in southern New Mexico, which is next door to Texas, so the cultural vibe is similar. I agree; we found every interaction we had, both in person and on the road, was pleasant. We Seattleites tend to be impatient. We tailgate in hopes of moving traffic along so we can get somewhere sooner. We spend time on sidewalks looking at our phones. In short, we are mostly unpleasant in public, whereas those people we experienced in NM and Texas were happy to see us. My early experience with Texas had to do with the military where I got yelled at a lot. But I knew that the yellers didn't have it out for me personally, so I've gotten over that. In short, I too have grown to love Texas and New Mexico and the people who call them home. But we did experience a sand storm, so there is that.
Good morning from Owatonna, Minnesota! I see that you have a show in Greeley, CO tomorrow and I have a local tidbit for you. My nephew Marek plays NAHL hockey for the Colorado Grit, headquartered in Greeley. The Grit are in their inaugural season and have unsurprisingly lost so many games the average human would give up hope of any success. It's a highly competitive, well established league. Yet, these guys hit the ice every weekend like heat-seeking missiles in search of the elusive hot win. Some prophetic visionary must have been part of the marketing committee that named the fledgling enterprise. They have grit.