It is off-putting to hear about your very expensive living quarters (once again) purchased in 1987 on the upper west side of Manhattan. We got it, you have oodles of money and you live in a very pricey and famous neighborhood. It's even more off-putting however to be reminded explicitly about your past marriages (two), but only because you somehow simply could not resist adding in the factoid that you broke two other women’s hearts by *not* marrying either of them. And that, Old Scout, sorta' had the distinctly unbecoming aroma of braggadocio.
Say what you will about Sinclair Lewis, I wish everyone would read his book titled It Can't Happen Here, which he wrote during the Depression. Sadly, I fear it can. As Amazon describes it: "A cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy, it is an alarming, eerily timeless look at how fascism could take hold in America... the chillingly realistic rise of a president who becomes a dictator to save the nation from welfare cheats, sex, crime, and a liberal press." And "a shockingly prescient novel that remains as fresh and contemporary as today’s news."
I'm about a quarter of the way through this book and it's pretty scary in light of current events. ""The Senator was vulgar, almost illiterate, a public liar easily detected, and in his 'ideas' almost idiodic, while his celebrated piety was that of a traveling salesman for church furniture..." This is a description of Buzz Windrip, fictional presidential candidate, almost guaranteed to win. Does he remind you of anyone?
O, such a wonderful story to read this early morning. Thank you so very much! I want to have my closet open now - it's pretty messy, so will take me a while to clean out first, and a trip to Salvation Army for sure. Your words sing to me. I love how you put them together.
I hope Ms. Dunaway reads this and gets a laugh. I mean, who among us hasn’t done something childish or dramatic when our affections are not returned? Leave it to GK to give us the dying butterflies image.
Have you ever seen the movie Tender Mercies. A movie with the best music, inspired acting and filled with love. I have watched about 50 times. Your column today reminded me of this movie. I am going to watch it again, thanks.
Just finished cleaning out my own closet. My "winter in Iowa project". So boring that I could have napped through the entire process about which no one would ever write a word, but me. Cheers!
We named our 12 week old Standard Poodle puppy Marcello because I was watching a rerun of La Dolce Vita and, when Marcello Mastroianni came flying overhead in the helicopter, my puppy’s eyes looked exactly like his. My daughter added Marshmallow to signify Marcello’s inner mush. Marcello was our heart dog.
Introverts are not so dramatic, and get divorced less than extroverts.
Sounds like you want your cake and to eat it, too.
It is off-putting to hear about your very expensive living quarters (once again) purchased in 1987 on the upper west side of Manhattan. We got it, you have oodles of money and you live in a very pricey and famous neighborhood. It's even more off-putting however to be reminded explicitly about your past marriages (two), but only because you somehow simply could not resist adding in the factoid that you broke two other women’s hearts by *not* marrying either of them. And that, Old Scout, sorta' had the distinctly unbecoming aroma of braggadocio.
Or confession...🤔
Hmmm…. I wonder what the Italian for “get a grip” is?
Hey, J, are you alright?
Coming from someone who has their honorific attached to their name (MD, PhD). "Lighten up, Francis."
Writer’s prerogative…
Sorry to put you off. Garrison Keillor, B.A.
Ha! I kinda like it when GK goes on about his situation and how he got there! But I'm weird so...
Say what you will about Sinclair Lewis, I wish everyone would read his book titled It Can't Happen Here, which he wrote during the Depression. Sadly, I fear it can. As Amazon describes it: "A cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy, it is an alarming, eerily timeless look at how fascism could take hold in America... the chillingly realistic rise of a president who becomes a dictator to save the nation from welfare cheats, sex, crime, and a liberal press." And "a shockingly prescient novel that remains as fresh and contemporary as today’s news."
Thank you, you just sold me a book!
Thank you.
I'm about a quarter of the way through this book and it's pretty scary in light of current events. ""The Senator was vulgar, almost illiterate, a public liar easily detected, and in his 'ideas' almost idiodic, while his celebrated piety was that of a traveling salesman for church furniture..." This is a description of Buzz Windrip, fictional presidential candidate, almost guaranteed to win. Does he remind you of anyone?
Exactly why I urge people to read this book. It's uncanny!
It's even freakier that it was published back in 1935.
I love reading these stories of another person's life. If my life had turned out differently, I too might have such tales to tell.
Instead, I have tales of my own life. To remember, to recount over breakfast, to savor or to pass over quickly lest I fall into grumpiness.
And now, to make oatmeal and brew coffee....
Loved this one!
Holy Cow! You live in the same grand architectural wonder as Marjorie Morningstar. ;) Very cool.
O, such a wonderful story to read this early morning. Thank you so very much! I want to have my closet open now - it's pretty messy, so will take me a while to clean out first, and a trip to Salvation Army for sure. Your words sing to me. I love how you put them together.
Amazing visual this morning Garrison. RR
The only Italian I've ever memorized was, "Lasciate ogni, speranza voi ch'entrate." I doubt that would be calming.
A pre-Valentine's column?
"He calmed her down by speaking Italian to her, a great language for pacifying your lover. "
But would this work on your wife, too?
I hope Ms. Dunaway reads this and gets a laugh. I mean, who among us hasn’t done something childish or dramatic when our affections are not returned? Leave it to GK to give us the dying butterflies image.
This strikes me as partly the cleaning out of the closet of your mind.
Have you ever seen the movie Tender Mercies. A movie with the best music, inspired acting and filled with love. I have watched about 50 times. Your column today reminded me of this movie. I am going to watch it again, thanks.
Just finished cleaning out my own closet. My "winter in Iowa project". So boring that I could have napped through the entire process about which no one would ever write a word, but me. Cheers!
We named our 12 week old Standard Poodle puppy Marcello because I was watching a rerun of La Dolce Vita and, when Marcello Mastroianni came flying overhead in the helicopter, my puppy’s eyes looked exactly like his. My daughter added Marshmallow to signify Marcello’s inner mush. Marcello was our heart dog.