I have fantasies of getting on an airplane and coming to see one of your concerts. At 74, I wish my fantasies were a little sexier, but this one will do.
It's a well-written column, and I agree completely with the need for a fresh start! It was the sentence about Upstaters being complete mysteries to New York City residents, though, that really caught my eye! Once, decades ago, during Nelson Rockefeller's governorship, I was at a Mets baseball game in the city. The folks behind me shared some popcorn with me, then asked where I was from. "Upstate", I replied. "Oh!", they said, as if I had rabies or TB. After a pause, they said, "That's all right. We'll forgive you." At that time, Rockefeller was busy updating the "farm-to-market" roads in the agricultural areas of Upstate New York. In particular, it had been difficult to get milk from the farms to the City, because of poor road surfaces, inadequate bridges for the weight of milk tanker trucks, etc. Reporters were taking pictures of our miles of new asphalt, contrasted with some foot-to-two-foot deep potholes on the Henry Hudson Parkway. They failed to note that people in New York City do. on occasion, drink milk, and that if dairy products can't get to the city, children will miss their glasses of milk, coffee drinkers will miss their cream, pizza eaters will miss their cheese, etc.
Actually, come to think about it, this wasn't the only time I met anti-Upstate antipathy. When I moved to California, I was driving on a fairly deserted desert road one day. There was a sedan sunk in sand on the shoulder. I stopped, hooked up a tow chain, and got them out onto the asphalt surface again. Before parting, the driver said: I see you have New York license plates. Where are you from?" I told him. "Oh! UPSTATE!" he said with a sneer. He turned on his heel, harrumphed away, and zipped past me without a word of thanks.
I think, over the years, the "State Divided" antipathy might have lessened a bit. With the WIC program, for instance, "Women, Infants and Children," Food Stamp recipients can get state produced cheese with WIC tickets. The cheese is something tangible for folks to relate to, some reason to grudgingly accept "The Other Half's" existence. Maybe, in the Long, Long Run, our "Nation Divided" can accept that although we might be of differing political parties, each of us need each other!
Garrison, Good column. That means it is one with which I agree completely.
About the new Governor of New York and no one have anything bad to say. Give them time. There is a segment of the media and a corresponding segment of the population that thrives on being angry. In fact spreading anger seems very profitable. If someone wants to go through life being angry and upset all the time it their life to waste.
But the media will continue looking at the Governor's background until a deed of commission or omission is found about which said media can express outrage and anger.
On one of the PHC programs, I believe that Garrison said that life is too short to spend it worrying about law care. Life is too short to spending it being angry. People are often angry about things they can't control anyway.
Everyday is a new day and each morning I think about what I need to do that day and forget about my failures and mistakes in the past.
A lot of people don't like John D. Rockefeller but he wrote a short poem that is good:
I was early taught to work as well as play.
My life has been one long, happy holiday;
Full of work and full of play--
I dropped the worry on the way--
And God was good me me everyday.
Those who are angry should drop the anger. It will keep you from enjoying life.
Re: Joe's problems, or Mario's for that matter:: Best not defend or make excuses for anything except your personal behavior. You more more than most should know that from personal experience.
You god fearing people are lucky to have a "spiritual relationship" with someone who, by their mere existence, can comfort you and also keep you on the" straight and narrow".
I am "A Lonely, Widower Atheist". God's representatives, the Popes and Bishops, left me no choice but to leave them, ....what with their attitudes about gays, birth control, and so on...( I do miss the Gregorian Chant, and the "other sacred music"... Then, two years ago...my wife of 47 years...passed, due to cancer. <Being a guy, I thought that I would get to "catch the last plane for the coast", so as to look for "the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost"
So, now, I have to re-invent myself... Anyone want to start a "United Atheists" church?
I find myself in total agreement with your comments.
I have fantasies of getting on an airplane and coming to see one of your concerts. At 74, I wish my fantasies were a little sexier, but this one will do.
Garrison Keillor has such a nice touch. It's just lovely. To start off the day it certainly equals a good massage and it's free.
It's a well-written column, and I agree completely with the need for a fresh start! It was the sentence about Upstaters being complete mysteries to New York City residents, though, that really caught my eye! Once, decades ago, during Nelson Rockefeller's governorship, I was at a Mets baseball game in the city. The folks behind me shared some popcorn with me, then asked where I was from. "Upstate", I replied. "Oh!", they said, as if I had rabies or TB. After a pause, they said, "That's all right. We'll forgive you." At that time, Rockefeller was busy updating the "farm-to-market" roads in the agricultural areas of Upstate New York. In particular, it had been difficult to get milk from the farms to the City, because of poor road surfaces, inadequate bridges for the weight of milk tanker trucks, etc. Reporters were taking pictures of our miles of new asphalt, contrasted with some foot-to-two-foot deep potholes on the Henry Hudson Parkway. They failed to note that people in New York City do. on occasion, drink milk, and that if dairy products can't get to the city, children will miss their glasses of milk, coffee drinkers will miss their cream, pizza eaters will miss their cheese, etc.
Actually, come to think about it, this wasn't the only time I met anti-Upstate antipathy. When I moved to California, I was driving on a fairly deserted desert road one day. There was a sedan sunk in sand on the shoulder. I stopped, hooked up a tow chain, and got them out onto the asphalt surface again. Before parting, the driver said: I see you have New York license plates. Where are you from?" I told him. "Oh! UPSTATE!" he said with a sneer. He turned on his heel, harrumphed away, and zipped past me without a word of thanks.
I think, over the years, the "State Divided" antipathy might have lessened a bit. With the WIC program, for instance, "Women, Infants and Children," Food Stamp recipients can get state produced cheese with WIC tickets. The cheese is something tangible for folks to relate to, some reason to grudgingly accept "The Other Half's" existence. Maybe, in the Long, Long Run, our "Nation Divided" can accept that although we might be of differing political parties, each of us need each other!
Garrison...
What did the Buddhist say to the hotdog vendor?
He said: "Make me one ...with everything.! .... bah dump bump.!
Thank you for writing.
Garrison, Good column. That means it is one with which I agree completely.
About the new Governor of New York and no one have anything bad to say. Give them time. There is a segment of the media and a corresponding segment of the population that thrives on being angry. In fact spreading anger seems very profitable. If someone wants to go through life being angry and upset all the time it their life to waste.
But the media will continue looking at the Governor's background until a deed of commission or omission is found about which said media can express outrage and anger.
On one of the PHC programs, I believe that Garrison said that life is too short to spend it worrying about law care. Life is too short to spending it being angry. People are often angry about things they can't control anyway.
Everyday is a new day and each morning I think about what I need to do that day and forget about my failures and mistakes in the past.
A lot of people don't like John D. Rockefeller but he wrote a short poem that is good:
I was early taught to work as well as play.
My life has been one long, happy holiday;
Full of work and full of play--
I dropped the worry on the way--
And God was good me me everyday.
Those who are angry should drop the anger. It will keep you from enjoying life.
Best wishes to one and all.
Amen and amen.
Re: Joe's problems, or Mario's for that matter:: Best not defend or make excuses for anything except your personal behavior. You more more than most should know that from personal experience.
Ahem. Explain yourself, sir.
You god fearing people are lucky to have a "spiritual relationship" with someone who, by their mere existence, can comfort you and also keep you on the" straight and narrow".
I am "A Lonely, Widower Atheist". God's representatives, the Popes and Bishops, left me no choice but to leave them, ....what with their attitudes about gays, birth control, and so on...( I do miss the Gregorian Chant, and the "other sacred music"... Then, two years ago...my wife of 47 years...passed, due to cancer. <Being a guy, I thought that I would get to "catch the last plane for the coast", so as to look for "the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost"
So, now, I have to re-invent myself... Anyone want to start a "United Atheists" church?
jack barry in SF
Mario will be fine. He has plenty of time to reflect... Joe is proving to be more than up to his challenges.
It made me smile, something we all need!!