We writers are not an endangered species, my friend and teacher. There will always be writers…. People ask why I have so many books, I could have Kindle. I answer that when the bomb drops, and Kindle no longer is an option, they will be knocking at my locked door..
That's some amazing optimism in the face of AI and the thought that if a bomb is dropped, it will be books that people might show up at your door for. I appreciate your passion.
We writers are (I think) out to gain public attention for our voice and point of view and public attention is a fragile state and it disappears suddenly. My biggest best-seller was such an amateur effort compared to books that sold a slim fraction. A person simply has to live with that.
And God created man/woman because he likes stories...
Keeping telling them stories lest we become bored and humorless. For it is in the laughter that we breath. It is in the breath that we are restored into eternal life.(My apologies to my incomplete religious education).
When others say that America is in decline, I say that America produced Garrison Keillor, Bob Dylan, and 3M. Together they have kept us going and held us close.
Garrison, love you man, but why do liberals insist on tucking their politically-edged digs towards conservatives into ordinary banter about the weather, a restaurant visit, family catch-ups, etc. I don't believe I've grown overly sensitive, but it's just not necessary. We know the color you bleed and I want to appreciate you, Garrison Keillor, the entertainer we all know and love.
I too worry about Mr. K. Those proclamations of contentment at 80 seem oddly out of place alongside the constant poking. Yes, we get it, Mr. K. But it is one of his more surprising traits considering the banal, even juvenile quality. For someone with such talents, why bother?
Perhaps his me-too kerfuffle left him so wounded he is still making his subliminal appeal to the liberal-progressive tribe that will never remove the asterisk from his name. He wants to live with them in New York? Maybe this is penance. It's embarrassing for many of us to be treated as such hamsters as he goes for the cheap trump click bait, but maybe that's what happens at 80. I respect the whole of his career too much to dismiss him now, but boy it's getting tedious.
And what happens when he has to be honest and give Biden the same treatment? A corrupt, lying, narcissistic president, and senile to boot? Garrison's honesty with his audience will surely be tested. After all, isn't he the one who preaches he doesn't like to write about politics? (Except, apparently, if it's about the pol he hates.) What grandfatherly old nuggets will he come up with when GK decides the lying, corrupt stooge of a president with a D next to his name needs forgiveness, not condemnation?
Thank you, John and Brigattista, for not calling me an animal, lunatic, scum, deranged fanatic, etc, but the ad hominem tone of the posts is interesting and Trumpean to the core. I made a passing joking reference to the stolen election of 2020 that your man keeps talking about and it lit your fuse. That is defensiveness of a remarkable delicacy. You really need to defend him and what he believes and stands for rather than piss on his critics. Raise your banner high. What will the Greater America be like? If two deranged scumbag raccoons like you are going to be in charge, let me off the bus.
I have no desire to defend Trump, Mr. Keillor. I do not like the man and never have. I would have never felt the need to "call out" a remarkably successful public figure like you were it not for the position you occupy in civil discourse, a bully pulpit far greater than one I could ever imagine. As you increasingly reference Christianity and the episcopal church as central to your life, your tone of disparagement and snideness toward others, such as evangelicals and republicans (and even -- my goodness -- Joni Mitchell?) becomes harder to ignore. It's your site, do with it what you wish, but it is not fresh, or creative, or something my writing students are encouraged to emulate. Are you really saving democracy? Or is the impulse to proclaim you're saving us morons from destroying democracy something of an even higher calliing?
PHC would have lasted for three shows had your current voice drowned out the voice the public learned to love. But PHC is history. A relic. Time for all of us to move on. Lake Wobegon today is probably just a bunch of mobile homes with trashy white parents and kids running around in diapers and every truck with the stars and bars and a maga hat on the dashboard, parked in front of the bar. The only similarity to the "real" Lake Wobegon and those yahoos out there whom you seem to despise is that they've both been cancelled.
Last week, for instance, you put forth this zinger: "The negative press that evangelicals get is mostly about their support of a crook and conman and would-be fascist for president," and then promptly shut down the "Comments" section. Perhaps it was a technical malfunction; Substack's IT folks are probably fixing it as I I write. Or could it be an oddly similar tendency to insult, shout down and cut-off others that you accuse your "fascist" enemies of employing?
Yours truly, a scumbag raccoon reader in Montclair, NJ, a very, very progressive town.
You are too delicate for words, my dear man. Your aversion to satire means you shouldn't be teaching writing, but crocheting. I'm writing a personal column, PHC was a radio variety show made up of musical acts, chunks of radio drama, and an account of a small town in Minnesota. It was never my soapbox. Now I'm an old retired guy and I write about what's on my mind.
Good grief, it is you, not Garrison Keillor, who is going on and on and on about..... well, about what exactly? You claim not to be a tRumper but you sure do sound like one. Your humorless anger at Keillor must serve some purpose of yours or some agenda which you support. There is a simple solution to your unhappiness at reading Keillor's writings: don't read them.
Last thing: I don't know if the people you seem to be defending are fascist enemies of Keillor, but any decent citizen or human being knows they are fascist enemies of America, or what we used to think of as America.
I'm thinkin', Fani Willis for President. She's small but mighty and to coin a babelism, quelles cajones!! She stands straight and tall because she's got some legitimate backbone!
Annie! Great to hear back! Evryone's a fascist when you drclare them a fascist. It's a cute game. In fact it's exactly what fascists do best, decide who's the enemy of the state. Be careful of the boomerang effect, though. It's sharp on both edges. When you say you don't know if some people are fascists, but any "decent cutizen knows they are fascist," you could be standing in Red Square or Tiannemen Square. Is that who you really are?
This presentation of labeling _anyone_ as “corrupt” in the context of an apparent defense of the Presidency of Donald Trump was inspired!
Likewise your impression of a mindless troll parroting the lies of Tucker Carlson (and others of his ilk, who have repeatedly been shown --as well as having admitted-- to repeatedly fabricating these sorts of stories) was genius.
Projection with your opinions on Biden. Those are all attributes the DJT seems to have a monopoly on. Sounds like you're defending Trump and his life-long misdeeds and crimes.
It is always interesting to note cases like this when any reaction to, any mere mention of the vilest, most direct assault on American democracy in our lifetimes --even as mild a one as GK has made here-- gets so casually dismissed as merely a “political-edged dig”, rather than simply acknowledged for what it is: A simple statement of obvious fact.
"It's just a biohazard issue, we had a passenger who had diarrhea all the way through the airplane so they want us to come back to Atlanta," a Delta Air Lines pilot said to air traffic control.
What would have happened had this occurred at the train station you mentioned if a passenger was in a similar dilemma?
When I failed Algebra for the third time, my Algebra teacher stayed after school with me every day for a semester so I could pass. I did with flying colors. I have never used Algebra a day in my life but I will never forget Mrs. Reardon.
My brother-in-law was a fire fighter and tried to save a man from drowning in an icy lake. He couldn’t get to him on time and it stays with him still.
My English teacher, Mr. Douglas, gave me back a paper I had turned in and made me promise I would never stop writing. I’m glad I kept that promise.
And my daughter loved me out of committing suicide before I was afforded an amazing psychiatrist who worked out a medication that brought back the ability for me to be happy again. He dedicated himself to making sure I was safe for years and didn’t charge me a dime. Don’t get me started. I won’t be able to stop.
"...I intend to keep going so as to justify the money Medicare put out to pay for the replacement of my mitral valve with one from a young pig, and also justify the sacrifice of the pig. I am deeply moved by America’s faith in the goodness of longevity...." From Garrison's post today. After an night of a stark reality 'attack' it (the post of his today) soothes me a little but, and the 'little bit' seems to matter. Reality's still here, but seem bearable, ever if temporary. The next time I hope to bear it remember this Garrison Keillor humor element. Edward Mycue (The problems of the world are potentially solvable. It is when we approach the higher, darker mysteries that we experience difficulties. Ortega y Gasset
Disparate yellow beautiful dreamers, we learned our ways through shades of
malaria, sleeping sickness, deaths, smaller worries about green mamba
snakes falling from shallow-rooted rain forest trees onto lorries I’d ridden
through the Kumasi kingdom to its far west district at the wall border of the
Ivory Coast of the Brong-Ahafo or north in the savannahs eddying past control
As in blindness and the attraction where the mind exists in ideal landscapes.
(c) Copyright Edward Mycue was born in Niagara Falls, New York 1937, raised in Texas from age 11, Arlington State University and North Texas State University degrees, Lowell Fellow at Boston University, WGBH-TV Boston intern, Macdowell Colony Fellow, Peace Corps teacher in Ghana, and taught American Literature at International Peoples College (Elsinore, Denmark). His publications include Damage within the Community (1973), Night Boats (2000), Song of San Francisco (UK, Peterborough) Living in San Francisco California since June 1, 1970
With those credentials I am honored that you appreciated my little missive.
I am not nearly as accomplished, but I published a book called “Rearview Mirror” by Tess Clayton which is available on Amazon. I think you might enjoy it.
My doctor has finally figured out the right dosage of the right medication for me, too. I'm not deliriously happy, but it's been months since I've felt the least bit suicidal. I never thought a little serotonin boost could make so much difference to my attitude! Life is good indeed. 😊
Algebra! Gah! The best line from “When Peggy Sue Got Married,” and she came back to visit an algebra class to tell one of the students, “You’ll never use this in real life” or some words to that point. Know what? She was right😊. Thanks for writing. Writing…the best liberation of all.
“The existence of rescuers who put themselves at risk in service to others.” Well, and beyond that, it’s the ways societies can arrange, to give folks opportunities to help. Back in my working days, the city of Whittier, California, organized an Adult Literacy Council. Residents could say “I need help” and volunteers would offer one-on-one sessions in reading. I heard about the program through my work and volunteered to help out. They assigned me to Mike, a man in his thirties who felt hopeless about the whole process of dealing with print.
However, we had two things going for us. Mike had joined an evangelical, “You Can Do It!” church with an inspirational woman pastor. 1’d come to our weekly sessions at his house, to find him all pumped up with her “Think Success!” messages. And - there was a local public library which had an “easy reading” section. It had “How to” books such as “How to Build an Addition to your House.” In Mike’s case, it was his garage that he wanted to add on to. Having something in print, with lots of pictures to tie the letters to, was something he could really get excited about. But I think, best of all, folks like Mike could go to the Council and ask for help without feeling shame or guilt. No one said “What’s the matter with you?” or anything of the sort. We just started in with wherever the person felt comfortable, and went on from there. The Council provided comic-book-like “primers” - the “A is for Apple” with a large apple on the page and such. We’d do a little “fundamental” warm-up, then go on to struggling through the words in the construction book, or whatever we had at the time.
No, as a “rescuer” I didn’t shimmy down a cable car’s overhead wires and rescue a crowd of thirty people stranded forty feet above the ground, like one fellow I heard about had done in British Columbia at their mountain attraction. But, “rescue” can take a lot of forms. In the case of adult literacy – the chief obstacle is “SHAME!” Mike would tell me how he would sometimes “read” whatever word went by on a billboard, just to give those around him the idea that he was “literate.” Literacy can be as much a “Social Problem” as a “Block to Advancement.” Mike and I worked together for two years at weekly sessions. When he was able to take his Driver’s License exam and pass, he felt that he had reached the goal he had set for himself.
Well – and that’s one more thing about “rescuing.” It seems important to me, for the “rescued” to be the one who defines “Success!” Kindergarten teachers examining their students’ finger-paintings don’t say: “That’s your dog Spot? I can’t see any resemblance to a dog there at all!” Sure! If your position is Examiner for the Department of Motor Vehicles, and you ask the applicant to parallel park, the driver in the seat either succeeds, or, hopefully, doesn’t damage the car parked next to it. Learning depends on going step by step – and feeling encouraged along the way.
Organizations such as our Literacy Council can help “Make Things Happen” by training their volunteers on the process. To me, this is one of the “less obvious” advantages of our “Free Society.” We can give opportunities to our citizens to help each other, and thereby “”Share the Wealth” of learning and experience. “Three Cheers For the Red, White and Blue!”
I mourn the loss of "of." We all seem 2 be so busy we keep carving syllables off words. No more romantic comedies, only romcoms. Look at all the time I saved there. Guess I'll go to the store and BOGO.
Yes, life is good. We do need to laugh more and take in the good stuff. That is why I started Life in Blue Jeans. It a place I can relay some of the amusing things that happen in my life. Keep writing... I think it’s good for the soul.
I too share many of your sentiments. I'm nearly your age - if that even matters. So few people succeed at making a living as a writer. Kudos to you! Yes, parking cars can be a noble job. I didn't fare well in college in the 60's because of all the distractions: primarily scantily clad girls, war protests, and plenty of pot to smoke. I spent most of my life at occupations not considered noble, but they trained me to be resourceful, mainly: car salesman, bellman, bartender, encyclopedia salesman, home alarm salesman, insurance salesman, and a few others. I don't regret any of them because I learned to deal with people. In fact, I feel so strongly about learning to deal with people, that I feel it is the most important "job" of all. I put that at the top of life lessons for everyone. Any thoughts?
All worthy occupations and dealing with people was at the heart of each of them so I don't doubt you learned a great deal I didn't learn as a self-conscious writer. But I had good colleagues who tried to keep me out of trouble and I married well. So I get by.
Finally, after decades of technical writing, which I had to learn on the job (chemist) and not in class, I'm writing for pleasure (although semi-retired, I still do some technical writing and commentary). I'm an essayist and a lousy poet and I'm having a ball, mostly dealing with memories and current observations.
Thanks again for a wonderful read, and so glad you were forced to turn to writing--and that you’re not sitting, Buddha-like in a rusting parking lot booth somewhere... I wrote about something similar--though with far less skill or humor--in a post called “People are People” (yes, a Horton Hears a Who reference). I reflect on a camping trip to Florida with an old grad-school buddy and fellow east coast liberal elite and how beneath the noise of political umbrage fueled by the once-far-right-now-centrist news media lay ordinary, good human beings who harbor all the same fears and foibles, humor, generosity....
"It dawns on you, watching this, that what makes a society a civilized society is the existence of rescuers who will put themselves at risk in service to others. It isn’t having a street system or social media or manufacturing capacity that define civil society, it’s public service."
"They liked when I said I found people’s stories more interesting than their political opinions. And that tolerance comes from loving individuals as individuals and therefore accepting their cranky beliefs and bizarre theories."
These two quotes from your post stood out to me this week, Garrison. When all is said and done, what is more important than people? They make a difference in our lives through their generosity and kindness... as Roger Angell and Bill Whitworth did for you. Or the people who came to see your amusements and the people who continue to read your work and appreciate you today.
Each of us is an individual, with 'cranky beliefs and bizarre theories'... as well as great ideas, unique personalities, and hearts and minds that need to be recognized and valued. Perhaps you didn't add the last part of that sentence to your writing, but I believe that I read it between the lines. And I don't take that for granted.
No pig has been sacrificed yet and for that I am grateful as well.
We writers are not an endangered species, my friend and teacher. There will always be writers…. People ask why I have so many books, I could have Kindle. I answer that when the bomb drops, and Kindle no longer is an option, they will be knocking at my locked door..
That's some amazing optimism in the face of AI and the thought that if a bomb is dropped, it will be books that people might show up at your door for. I appreciate your passion.
I’ve believed that for years! We of the printed word will survive ❤️
A real book is my preference as well, I have hundreds (maybe thousands).
We writers are (I think) out to gain public attention for our voice and point of view and public attention is a fragile state and it disappears suddenly. My biggest best-seller was such an amateur effort compared to books that sold a slim fraction. A person simply has to live with that.
And God created man/woman because he likes stories...
Keeping telling them stories lest we become bored and humorless. For it is in the laughter that we breath. It is in the breath that we are restored into eternal life.(My apologies to my incomplete religious education).
When others say that America is in decline, I say that America produced Garrison Keillor, Bob Dylan, and 3M. Together they have kept us going and held us close.
He wrote "Lay, Lady, Lay" and they produced Scotch tape and I haven't worked on that level before but I'm only 81, there's time.
Good morning Garrison
That was beautiful. Thank you.
...and since you brought it up, I can’t help but remember this parable of Buddha in the service industry (courtesy of Billy Collins):
https://youtu.be/wXaXaSi16QM?si=v8PKRBvXc19Up1Ko
Nichael, that poem is terrific! I wasn't familiar with it and it's perfect here. Thank you for sharing the link.
Garrison, love you man, but why do liberals insist on tucking their politically-edged digs towards conservatives into ordinary banter about the weather, a restaurant visit, family catch-ups, etc. I don't believe I've grown overly sensitive, but it's just not necessary. We know the color you bleed and I want to appreciate you, Garrison Keillor, the entertainer we all know and love.
I too worry about Mr. K. Those proclamations of contentment at 80 seem oddly out of place alongside the constant poking. Yes, we get it, Mr. K. But it is one of his more surprising traits considering the banal, even juvenile quality. For someone with such talents, why bother?
Perhaps his me-too kerfuffle left him so wounded he is still making his subliminal appeal to the liberal-progressive tribe that will never remove the asterisk from his name. He wants to live with them in New York? Maybe this is penance. It's embarrassing for many of us to be treated as such hamsters as he goes for the cheap trump click bait, but maybe that's what happens at 80. I respect the whole of his career too much to dismiss him now, but boy it's getting tedious.
And what happens when he has to be honest and give Biden the same treatment? A corrupt, lying, narcissistic president, and senile to boot? Garrison's honesty with his audience will surely be tested. After all, isn't he the one who preaches he doesn't like to write about politics? (Except, apparently, if it's about the pol he hates.) What grandfatherly old nuggets will he come up with when GK decides the lying, corrupt stooge of a president with a D next to his name needs forgiveness, not condemnation?
Thank you, John and Brigattista, for not calling me an animal, lunatic, scum, deranged fanatic, etc, but the ad hominem tone of the posts is interesting and Trumpean to the core. I made a passing joking reference to the stolen election of 2020 that your man keeps talking about and it lit your fuse. That is defensiveness of a remarkable delicacy. You really need to defend him and what he believes and stands for rather than piss on his critics. Raise your banner high. What will the Greater America be like? If two deranged scumbag raccoons like you are going to be in charge, let me off the bus.
I have no desire to defend Trump, Mr. Keillor. I do not like the man and never have. I would have never felt the need to "call out" a remarkably successful public figure like you were it not for the position you occupy in civil discourse, a bully pulpit far greater than one I could ever imagine. As you increasingly reference Christianity and the episcopal church as central to your life, your tone of disparagement and snideness toward others, such as evangelicals and republicans (and even -- my goodness -- Joni Mitchell?) becomes harder to ignore. It's your site, do with it what you wish, but it is not fresh, or creative, or something my writing students are encouraged to emulate. Are you really saving democracy? Or is the impulse to proclaim you're saving us morons from destroying democracy something of an even higher calliing?
PHC would have lasted for three shows had your current voice drowned out the voice the public learned to love. But PHC is history. A relic. Time for all of us to move on. Lake Wobegon today is probably just a bunch of mobile homes with trashy white parents and kids running around in diapers and every truck with the stars and bars and a maga hat on the dashboard, parked in front of the bar. The only similarity to the "real" Lake Wobegon and those yahoos out there whom you seem to despise is that they've both been cancelled.
Last week, for instance, you put forth this zinger: "The negative press that evangelicals get is mostly about their support of a crook and conman and would-be fascist for president," and then promptly shut down the "Comments" section. Perhaps it was a technical malfunction; Substack's IT folks are probably fixing it as I I write. Or could it be an oddly similar tendency to insult, shout down and cut-off others that you accuse your "fascist" enemies of employing?
Yours truly, a scumbag raccoon reader in Montclair, NJ, a very, very progressive town.
You are too delicate for words, my dear man. Your aversion to satire means you shouldn't be teaching writing, but crocheting. I'm writing a personal column, PHC was a radio variety show made up of musical acts, chunks of radio drama, and an account of a small town in Minnesota. It was never my soapbox. Now I'm an old retired guy and I write about what's on my mind.
Good grief, it is you, not Garrison Keillor, who is going on and on and on about..... well, about what exactly? You claim not to be a tRumper but you sure do sound like one. Your humorless anger at Keillor must serve some purpose of yours or some agenda which you support. There is a simple solution to your unhappiness at reading Keillor's writings: don't read them.
Last thing: I don't know if the people you seem to be defending are fascist enemies of Keillor, but any decent citizen or human being knows they are fascist enemies of America, or what we used to think of as America.
I'm thinkin', Fani Willis for President. She's small but mighty and to coin a babelism, quelles cajones!! She stands straight and tall because she's got some legitimate backbone!
Annie! Great to hear back! Evryone's a fascist when you drclare them a fascist. It's a cute game. In fact it's exactly what fascists do best, decide who's the enemy of the state. Be careful of the boomerang effect, though. It's sharp on both edges. When you say you don't know if some people are fascists, but any "decent cutizen knows they are fascist," you could be standing in Red Square or Tiannemen Square. Is that who you really are?
It's good to see humorlessness in action and I'm only sorry for your students.
Thank you. That was hilarious.
This presentation of labeling _anyone_ as “corrupt” in the context of an apparent defense of the Presidency of Donald Trump was inspired!
Likewise your impression of a mindless troll parroting the lies of Tucker Carlson (and others of his ilk, who have repeatedly been shown --as well as having admitted-- to repeatedly fabricating these sorts of stories) was genius.
Well done!!
Projection with your opinions on Biden. Those are all attributes the DJT seems to have a monopoly on. Sounds like you're defending Trump and his life-long misdeeds and crimes.
It is always interesting to note cases like this when any reaction to, any mere mention of the vilest, most direct assault on American democracy in our lifetimes --even as mild a one as GK has made here-- gets so casually dismissed as merely a “political-edged dig”, rather than simply acknowledged for what it is: A simple statement of obvious fact.
"It's just a biohazard issue, we had a passenger who had diarrhea all the way through the airplane so they want us to come back to Atlanta," a Delta Air Lines pilot said to air traffic control.
What would have happened had this occurred at the train station you mentioned if a passenger was in a similar dilemma?
Dea, Isleton, CA
Trains don't turn around.
Do they back up?
Not for diarrhea, no.
Thank God. It’s always better to leave all the crap behind and move on. After time it drys up and becomes irrelevant.
LOL
When I failed Algebra for the third time, my Algebra teacher stayed after school with me every day for a semester so I could pass. I did with flying colors. I have never used Algebra a day in my life but I will never forget Mrs. Reardon.
My brother-in-law was a fire fighter and tried to save a man from drowning in an icy lake. He couldn’t get to him on time and it stays with him still.
My English teacher, Mr. Douglas, gave me back a paper I had turned in and made me promise I would never stop writing. I’m glad I kept that promise.
And my daughter loved me out of committing suicide before I was afforded an amazing psychiatrist who worked out a medication that brought back the ability for me to be happy again. He dedicated himself to making sure I was safe for years and didn’t charge me a dime. Don’t get me started. I won’t be able to stop.
"...I intend to keep going so as to justify the money Medicare put out to pay for the replacement of my mitral valve with one from a young pig, and also justify the sacrifice of the pig. I am deeply moved by America’s faith in the goodness of longevity...." From Garrison's post today. After an night of a stark reality 'attack' it (the post of his today) soothes me a little but, and the 'little bit' seems to matter. Reality's still here, but seem bearable, ever if temporary. The next time I hope to bear it remember this Garrison Keillor humor element. Edward Mycue (The problems of the world are potentially solvable. It is when we approach the higher, darker mysteries that we experience difficulties. Ortega y Gasset
Disparate yellow beautiful dreamers, we learned our ways through shades of
malaria, sleeping sickness, deaths, smaller worries about green mamba
snakes falling from shallow-rooted rain forest trees onto lorries I’d ridden
through the Kumasi kingdom to its far west district at the wall border of the
Ivory Coast of the Brong-Ahafo or north in the savannahs eddying past control
As in blindness and the attraction where the mind exists in ideal landscapes.
(c) Copyright Edward Mycue was born in Niagara Falls, New York 1937, raised in Texas from age 11, Arlington State University and North Texas State University degrees, Lowell Fellow at Boston University, WGBH-TV Boston intern, Macdowell Colony Fellow, Peace Corps teacher in Ghana, and taught American Literature at International Peoples College (Elsinore, Denmark). His publications include Damage within the Community (1973), Night Boats (2000), Song of San Francisco (UK, Peterborough) Living in San Francisco California since June 1, 1970
With those credentials I am honored that you appreciated my little missive.
I am not nearly as accomplished, but I published a book called “Rearview Mirror” by Tess Clayton which is available on Amazon. I think you might enjoy it.
Regards,
Tess
My doctor has finally figured out the right dosage of the right medication for me, too. I'm not deliriously happy, but it's been months since I've felt the least bit suicidal. I never thought a little serotonin boost could make so much difference to my attitude! Life is good indeed. 😊
Algebra! Gah! The best line from “When Peggy Sue Got Married,” and she came back to visit an algebra class to tell one of the students, “You’ll never use this in real life” or some words to that point. Know what? She was right😊. Thanks for writing. Writing…the best liberation of all.
But algebra taught you how to think so maybe you do use it.
Good point. I can learn a lot from things I hate.
You’re right. I can learn a lot from things I hate. Thanks for reminding me.
Apparently I sent you several replies. I haven’t gotten the hang of this yet. Sorry.
For me, it’s all I know.
“The existence of rescuers who put themselves at risk in service to others.” Well, and beyond that, it’s the ways societies can arrange, to give folks opportunities to help. Back in my working days, the city of Whittier, California, organized an Adult Literacy Council. Residents could say “I need help” and volunteers would offer one-on-one sessions in reading. I heard about the program through my work and volunteered to help out. They assigned me to Mike, a man in his thirties who felt hopeless about the whole process of dealing with print.
However, we had two things going for us. Mike had joined an evangelical, “You Can Do It!” church with an inspirational woman pastor. 1’d come to our weekly sessions at his house, to find him all pumped up with her “Think Success!” messages. And - there was a local public library which had an “easy reading” section. It had “How to” books such as “How to Build an Addition to your House.” In Mike’s case, it was his garage that he wanted to add on to. Having something in print, with lots of pictures to tie the letters to, was something he could really get excited about. But I think, best of all, folks like Mike could go to the Council and ask for help without feeling shame or guilt. No one said “What’s the matter with you?” or anything of the sort. We just started in with wherever the person felt comfortable, and went on from there. The Council provided comic-book-like “primers” - the “A is for Apple” with a large apple on the page and such. We’d do a little “fundamental” warm-up, then go on to struggling through the words in the construction book, or whatever we had at the time.
No, as a “rescuer” I didn’t shimmy down a cable car’s overhead wires and rescue a crowd of thirty people stranded forty feet above the ground, like one fellow I heard about had done in British Columbia at their mountain attraction. But, “rescue” can take a lot of forms. In the case of adult literacy – the chief obstacle is “SHAME!” Mike would tell me how he would sometimes “read” whatever word went by on a billboard, just to give those around him the idea that he was “literate.” Literacy can be as much a “Social Problem” as a “Block to Advancement.” Mike and I worked together for two years at weekly sessions. When he was able to take his Driver’s License exam and pass, he felt that he had reached the goal he had set for himself.
Well – and that’s one more thing about “rescuing.” It seems important to me, for the “rescued” to be the one who defines “Success!” Kindergarten teachers examining their students’ finger-paintings don’t say: “That’s your dog Spot? I can’t see any resemblance to a dog there at all!” Sure! If your position is Examiner for the Department of Motor Vehicles, and you ask the applicant to parallel park, the driver in the seat either succeeds, or, hopefully, doesn’t damage the car parked next to it. Learning depends on going step by step – and feeling encouraged along the way.
Organizations such as our Literacy Council can help “Make Things Happen” by training their volunteers on the process. To me, this is one of the “less obvious” advantages of our “Free Society.” We can give opportunities to our citizens to help each other, and thereby “”Share the Wealth” of learning and experience. “Three Cheers For the Red, White and Blue!”
Indeed.
"...lost a couple cables..."
I mourn the loss of "of." We all seem 2 be so busy we keep carving syllables off words. No more romantic comedies, only romcoms. Look at all the time I saved there. Guess I'll go to the store and BOGO.
Very uplifting and, yes, life is good!
Yes, life is good. We do need to laugh more and take in the good stuff. That is why I started Life in Blue Jeans. It a place I can relay some of the amusing things that happen in my life. Keep writing... I think it’s good for the soul.
Hi GK,
I too share many of your sentiments. I'm nearly your age - if that even matters. So few people succeed at making a living as a writer. Kudos to you! Yes, parking cars can be a noble job. I didn't fare well in college in the 60's because of all the distractions: primarily scantily clad girls, war protests, and plenty of pot to smoke. I spent most of my life at occupations not considered noble, but they trained me to be resourceful, mainly: car salesman, bellman, bartender, encyclopedia salesman, home alarm salesman, insurance salesman, and a few others. I don't regret any of them because I learned to deal with people. In fact, I feel so strongly about learning to deal with people, that I feel it is the most important "job" of all. I put that at the top of life lessons for everyone. Any thoughts?
Carl Arrechea
All worthy occupations and dealing with people was at the heart of each of them so I don't doubt you learned a great deal I didn't learn as a self-conscious writer. But I had good colleagues who tried to keep me out of trouble and I married well. So I get by.
Finally, after decades of technical writing, which I had to learn on the job (chemist) and not in class, I'm writing for pleasure (although semi-retired, I still do some technical writing and commentary). I'm an essayist and a lousy poet and I'm having a ball, mostly dealing with memories and current observations.
Thanks again for a wonderful read, and so glad you were forced to turn to writing--and that you’re not sitting, Buddha-like in a rusting parking lot booth somewhere... I wrote about something similar--though with far less skill or humor--in a post called “People are People” (yes, a Horton Hears a Who reference). I reflect on a camping trip to Florida with an old grad-school buddy and fellow east coast liberal elite and how beneath the noise of political umbrage fueled by the once-far-right-now-centrist news media lay ordinary, good human beings who harbor all the same fears and foibles, humor, generosity....
"It dawns on you, watching this, that what makes a society a civilized society is the existence of rescuers who will put themselves at risk in service to others. It isn’t having a street system or social media or manufacturing capacity that define civil society, it’s public service."
"They liked when I said I found people’s stories more interesting than their political opinions. And that tolerance comes from loving individuals as individuals and therefore accepting their cranky beliefs and bizarre theories."
These two quotes from your post stood out to me this week, Garrison. When all is said and done, what is more important than people? They make a difference in our lives through their generosity and kindness... as Roger Angell and Bill Whitworth did for you. Or the people who came to see your amusements and the people who continue to read your work and appreciate you today.
Each of us is an individual, with 'cranky beliefs and bizarre theories'... as well as great ideas, unique personalities, and hearts and minds that need to be recognized and valued. Perhaps you didn't add the last part of that sentence to your writing, but I believe that I read it between the lines. And I don't take that for granted.
No pig has been sacrificed yet and for that I am grateful as well.
Thanks, my friend. It's an honor to have readers who read750 words and not just a sentence.