What a fine column. And I could have written the last paragraph myself. Life is good. May it continue until the Supreme Being decides he (or she) is done with us..
You bring back the fondest memories of Prairie Home, Mr. Keillor. Your astonishingly detailed observational skills were just one of the dimensions that made PHC great Americana. To a person like me who has been known to walk nose first into very clean windows (they should have built a wall and not a floor to ceiling window simply to fool and spite poor observers such as myself) your eye for subtle detail makes me realize how much of the quotidian, day to day world is passing me by and I'm missing.
Under your tutorship (unbeknownst to yourself I'm guessing) I was sitting in my back yard porch admiring a grand White Oak tree now about to lose its leaves. And I pondered upon how much older that magnificent tree and my current house (it is rented not owned by me) are than the house my parents had built in 1962, was sold in 1978 and has -- according to my understanding -- changed owners about half a dozen times since while the builders (my parents, may they rest in peace) have been in their grave for many years.
So you've taught me and your loyal listeners many things but one of them is to pay attention. Walking into glass walls did nothing for my profile just as putting a plate in one's lower lip is not going to help me (or anyone for that matter) win the Paul Newman look alike contest. (Although an old girl friend said I looked a lot like the late Mr. Newman, just from the neck down. Whatever that means?)
What a wonderful post. Thank you. I love porching too and appreciate the freedoms that come with retirement and age. Coffee and muffins are good too. I look forward to reading your Substack posts.
Good morning, Garrison: My hopes when beginning to read these morning letters is that "yellow pants" will get a brisk shellacking. I often wish that Paul Harvey was still with us, my 40 plus years of listening to his daily, six days a week messages could spare us of todays, "thou shall nots". You are doing just fine in satisfying my need for a yellow pants smack down. RR
Thank you, Garrison, for sharing this lovely interlude with us. I live nearby and get to see a lot of this lovely countryside (although usually from my car as I’m driving from one town hall to another). I’m actually a bit more envious of your City life but what a joy to have both with a loving companion.
Do you know that David Sedaris mentions you in his essay in the current issue of the New Yorker? Sedaris writes about being invited to the Vatican with scores of other comedians and wondering why “more qualified people” weren’t asked. Why not Garrison Keillor…?” he says.
I feel it- I have been there- and thank God I have already experienced the best two days of a boat owners life. (The day you buy it and the day you sell it.) Sitting in the sun with restful thoughts- holding the one I have loved for well over half a century. If this is as good as it gets- life has been so much more than worth it. More is not desired or necessary.
I love this column. I live in my own version of your porch, a house with a huge deck on the edge of a small canyon. It’s getting to be a bigger challenge every year to manage this property by myself with a little help from my family, but I’m loathe to give it up, this peaceful little gem which has been my sanctuary for so long.
Love the article except for the ever present dig at President Trump in the third paragraph...you are better than that...fact checking is not party specific...and you know it...keep up the good work...
Greetings from a midwestern deck facing a 100+ year oak tree. Thankfully, I have no boats! Thank you for your wisdom and dig at Mr. Trump. It proves you are alive and thinking about our future.
Porching.
What a fine column. And I could have written the last paragraph myself. Life is good. May it continue until the Supreme Being decides he (or she) is done with us..
You bring back the fondest memories of Prairie Home, Mr. Keillor. Your astonishingly detailed observational skills were just one of the dimensions that made PHC great Americana. To a person like me who has been known to walk nose first into very clean windows (they should have built a wall and not a floor to ceiling window simply to fool and spite poor observers such as myself) your eye for subtle detail makes me realize how much of the quotidian, day to day world is passing me by and I'm missing.
Under your tutorship (unbeknownst to yourself I'm guessing) I was sitting in my back yard porch admiring a grand White Oak tree now about to lose its leaves. And I pondered upon how much older that magnificent tree and my current house (it is rented not owned by me) are than the house my parents had built in 1962, was sold in 1978 and has -- according to my understanding -- changed owners about half a dozen times since while the builders (my parents, may they rest in peace) have been in their grave for many years.
So you've taught me and your loyal listeners many things but one of them is to pay attention. Walking into glass walls did nothing for my profile just as putting a plate in one's lower lip is not going to help me (or anyone for that matter) win the Paul Newman look alike contest. (Although an old girl friend said I looked a lot like the late Mr. Newman, just from the neck down. Whatever that means?)
Maybe she meant this? https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/5428602172bd5a4566c62ce7/master/w_1600%2Cc_limit/image.jpg
Porching is the best!
What a wonderful post. Thank you. I love porching too and appreciate the freedoms that come with retirement and age. Coffee and muffins are good too. I look forward to reading your Substack posts.
Good morning, Garrison: My hopes when beginning to read these morning letters is that "yellow pants" will get a brisk shellacking. I often wish that Paul Harvey was still with us, my 40 plus years of listening to his daily, six days a week messages could spare us of todays, "thou shall nots". You are doing just fine in satisfying my need for a yellow pants smack down. RR
"I prefer porching" also, especially front porching in a friendly and walkable neighborhood
True. And when more people porch, the friendlier the neighborhood gets
Beautiful.
Thank you, Garrison, for sharing this lovely interlude with us. I live nearby and get to see a lot of this lovely countryside (although usually from my car as I’m driving from one town hall to another). I’m actually a bit more envious of your City life but what a joy to have both with a loving companion.
Do you know that David Sedaris mentions you in his essay in the current issue of the New Yorker? Sedaris writes about being invited to the Vatican with scores of other comedians and wondering why “more qualified people” weren’t asked. Why not Garrison Keillor…?” he says.
A nice shout out.
And well-deserved.
From a fellow pitcher—and decker.
I feel it- I have been there- and thank God I have already experienced the best two days of a boat owners life. (The day you buy it and the day you sell it.) Sitting in the sun with restful thoughts- holding the one I have loved for well over half a century. If this is as good as it gets- life has been so much more than worth it. More is not desired or necessary.
I love this column. I live in my own version of your porch, a house with a huge deck on the edge of a small canyon. It’s getting to be a bigger challenge every year to manage this property by myself with a little help from my family, but I’m loathe to give it up, this peaceful little gem which has been my sanctuary for so long.
Reading this was good for my soul today. Thank you
Greetings from one more guy who read this while sitting out on the front porch swing in the morning sun.
(Alas, no river in view. But the surrounding woods here in southern Vermont make a darn fine substitute.)
P. S. Not many more days this year. Gotta grab them while you can.
Love the article except for the ever present dig at President Trump in the third paragraph...you are better than that...fact checking is not party specific...and you know it...keep up the good work...
PoppiRowe, you'd better go check on your pets! Haitians may be eating them while you're distracted online...
Greetings from a midwestern deck facing a 100+ year oak tree. Thankfully, I have no boats! Thank you for your wisdom and dig at Mr. Trump. It proves you are alive and thinking about our future.