My first thought was "dear Lord, how can you be 83"? Then, I rembered I am 78. And yes, I claim joy every morning & can be found laughing with my co workers 4 days a week & friends & family whoever we gather. Keep up the good work Garrison, we all need humor!
I don't understand why the persistent necessity for the "either-or" construction. Either Kafka or dancing and fun.... Not a necessary dichotomy. Both can exist in one person, in one life, happily even. Whether Kafka himself was happy or not is irrelevant; if his work - or the work of other creative minds - does big things to the mind/spirit/being of the reader, that is what is relevant. The writer's life is not the reader's life. To conflate the art with the life of the artist and the life of the reader is to confuse "celebrity" with creativity, with art; that is a common process in contemporary America, but not necessarily a good thing, not a good thing at all. For all you know, Kafka liked to cut the rug now and then and anyway, you can be happy you didn't wake up thinking you were a bug! (Kafka/bug/Metamorphosis)
Cool comment. I get misinterpreted all the time whenever I present the "other side" in a conversation. I am not advocating for the "other side", just trying to raise the awareness of its presence. I guess this awareness of both sides of an issue is not popular these days.
Despite what you say here, Lawrence, at the most important moments you always vent your criticism on the wrong side, rather than on the openly corrupt, fascist side. Of course, I can only base this statement on the comments you have written here over the past several years.
We're all mistaken sometimes. It doesn't mean that his contribution was unimportant. Russia is to be resisted because they are authoritarian, and Kafka helps us see what authoritarians do.
Thank you for googling to find the word pacifier- I am only 78 and I had to google three days in a row to find out what they call the outside of the road where you are not suppose to drive but it is there if you need it- shoulder.
Glad I am not the only one who pulls forgotten words off my phone! From that opening, I knew your message would make my 27,539th day on the planet a good one. Yes, I used my phone for that calculation. My husband cheerfully used this method to calculate the number of days we have been married. That equates to 19,991! If nothing else, the liberal arts degree awarded 19,735 days ago taught me how to gracefully age with technology!
Wow, Garrison! I read this at 4:30 this morning as I woke up after tossing around for an hour hour and a half. It's like I woke up with you in the next room. Uncanny!
I must say this is one of the finest of your essays that I have ever read. I discovered you when I came across PHC way back when and I have learned to stop and check out everything I come across that bears your name.
I am 79 and a half, not quite your age but close. I think maybe a dad better shape physically, but certainly not intellectually. I just know a good thing when I see it. Thank you!
I woke up this morning from some morose dreaming and felt my old companion dread, shuffled into the kitchen for a cup of coffee, mumbled "Good Morning" to my beautiful bride of so many sweet years as we passed one another in our short hallway and then read two things on the computer while I sipped my coffee. The first thing that I read was about a man named Witold Pilecki who had been an officer in the Polish cavalry during World War Two and then a member of the Polish underground resistance, who kissed his wife and children goodbye in 1941 and let himself be arrested so that he could enter Auschwitz to become prisoner "4859." Inside a human hell on earth, this man observed what the world could not imagine and smuggled out written reports so that the world would know what it did not want to know. He also painstakingly organized a resistance cell of men within Auschwitz who would rather die than betray one another and then miraculously escaped the death camp to be a living eyewitness to Nazi genocide. After the war, he returned to Poland from the safety that he had in England with the Polish government in exile to the Soviet-controlled government there to help his nation struggle for a freedom which did not come in his lifetime. Because he knew that he would most likely die in this work, he first completed a compilation of his writings about Auschwitz that he had entitled "Witold's Report." In 1948 at the age of 47, the Polish communist government tried Witold Pilecki for treason, tortured, and then executed this hero. Truly the world is not worthy of such a soul as was his. Then I read your post today, G.K., about living life to the full, and although the thing that I read about Witold Pilecki's life was sobering and somber, your light-hearted reminder to not squander this gift of our lives is compatible, I think. I arise from my early morning dread and now celebrate this gift that I have been given of another day. I thank God for both you and for a man I had never known about until today, and I will honor my Maker with a fortitude and grace that my desolate dreams last night had lacked. https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/witold-pilecki; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witold_Pilecki
I was going to be a smart ass and comment "Dude, switch to decaf" but I won't. Those are brilliant musings, Mr Majik, all the more so for the early hour, and a sterling commencement of your day. (I awaken later than one ought to, an avalanche of cares looming, neither fortitude nor grace at hand, grateful I suppose that I still remember the way to the men's room).
I laughed at "I used to write book reports for books I never read" because it brought back memories of writing book reports for my friends in school. I even got away with writing an occasional book report on short stories I read in Alfred Hitchcock's mystery magazine, a monthly gift subscription I received from my aunt. I majored in English but struggled through classical literature preferring exciting sci-fi and had a passion for English grammar, semantics, and syntax. In the early 80s I failed as an English teacher in front of too many hormonal middle schoolers even as I presented songs by Jimmy Buffett and Laurie Anderson as poetry. But I am famous among my distant friends who love my Emails and before that hand written letters. Writing pleases me and reading your column always brings joy even in times of madness. Thank you!
Garrison, what's the name of your cousin's business? Chances are he and I have a connection, which means you and I do, the thought of which tickles me no end!
I have been in horticulture more than 40 years, since my wife graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in horticulture. Me? I discovered a knack for writing in my freshman year and stumbled into journalism (also, no math requirements!). Amazingly, God gave me a long and fruitful career writing for the greenhouse and garden center trade. So chances are, Wayne reads my magazines, GrowerTalks and Green Profit.
As for the tickled part, my three favorite authors are P.G. Wodehouse, Nevil Shute and Garrison Keillor. My dog-eared copies of "The Weekend Wodehouse," "On the Beach" and "WLT: A Radio Romance" will be coming with me to Assisted Living (the pinnacle of value, since you can't bring much).
Thank you for the decades of inspiration and also for your oddball rambling sentence structures, which I sometimes try to emulate to prove my stuff is written by a God-fearing human, not Grok or Chat or Gemini.
My first thought was "dear Lord, how can you be 83"? Then, I rembered I am 78. And yes, I claim joy every morning & can be found laughing with my co workers 4 days a week & friends & family whoever we gather. Keep up the good work Garrison, we all need humor!
It’s a good message.
It has a good beat and you can dance to it.
Omg! I haven’t heard that phrase in years!! You made me laugh… and remember ❤️—thanks.
❤️❤️❤️
"Shake your shoulders, swing and sway, that's the message for today."
Message received
Your writing is still above average, sir, so choosing to be an English major paid off!
And, his writing makes people laugh. I'm sure his other family members were fine people, but I don't know any of them.
I don't understand why the persistent necessity for the "either-or" construction. Either Kafka or dancing and fun.... Not a necessary dichotomy. Both can exist in one person, in one life, happily even. Whether Kafka himself was happy or not is irrelevant; if his work - or the work of other creative minds - does big things to the mind/spirit/being of the reader, that is what is relevant. The writer's life is not the reader's life. To conflate the art with the life of the artist and the life of the reader is to confuse "celebrity" with creativity, with art; that is a common process in contemporary America, but not necessarily a good thing, not a good thing at all. For all you know, Kafka liked to cut the rug now and then and anyway, you can be happy you didn't wake up thinking you were a bug! (Kafka/bug/Metamorphosis)
A insightful comment. Your excellent liberal arts education comes through loud and clear (loudly and clearly?).
Cool comment. I get misinterpreted all the time whenever I present the "other side" in a conversation. I am not advocating for the "other side", just trying to raise the awareness of its presence. I guess this awareness of both sides of an issue is not popular these days.
Despite what you say here, Lawrence, at the most important moments you always vent your criticism on the wrong side, rather than on the openly corrupt, fascist side. Of course, I can only base this statement on the comments you have written here over the past several years.
The man made it clear that he believed the only serious literature is that which causes pain. I disagree.
We're all mistaken sometimes. It doesn't mean that his contribution was unimportant. Russia is to be resisted because they are authoritarian, and Kafka helps us see what authoritarians do.
What? You mean you did all of that radio stuff sitting down???
I needed your humor this morning …thank you !!
Thank you for your words, Garrison.
Thank you for googling to find the word pacifier- I am only 78 and I had to google three days in a row to find out what they call the outside of the road where you are not suppose to drive but it is there if you need it- shoulder.
Glad I am not the only one who pulls forgotten words off my phone! From that opening, I knew your message would make my 27,539th day on the planet a good one. Yes, I used my phone for that calculation. My husband cheerfully used this method to calculate the number of days we have been married. That equates to 19,991! If nothing else, the liberal arts degree awarded 19,735 days ago taught me how to gracefully age with technology!
Wow, Garrison! I read this at 4:30 this morning as I woke up after tossing around for an hour hour and a half. It's like I woke up with you in the next room. Uncanny!
I must say this is one of the finest of your essays that I have ever read. I discovered you when I came across PHC way back when and I have learned to stop and check out everything I come across that bears your name.
I am 79 and a half, not quite your age but close. I think maybe a dad better shape physically, but certainly not intellectually. I just know a good thing when I see it. Thank you!
I woke up this morning from some morose dreaming and felt my old companion dread, shuffled into the kitchen for a cup of coffee, mumbled "Good Morning" to my beautiful bride of so many sweet years as we passed one another in our short hallway and then read two things on the computer while I sipped my coffee. The first thing that I read was about a man named Witold Pilecki who had been an officer in the Polish cavalry during World War Two and then a member of the Polish underground resistance, who kissed his wife and children goodbye in 1941 and let himself be arrested so that he could enter Auschwitz to become prisoner "4859." Inside a human hell on earth, this man observed what the world could not imagine and smuggled out written reports so that the world would know what it did not want to know. He also painstakingly organized a resistance cell of men within Auschwitz who would rather die than betray one another and then miraculously escaped the death camp to be a living eyewitness to Nazi genocide. After the war, he returned to Poland from the safety that he had in England with the Polish government in exile to the Soviet-controlled government there to help his nation struggle for a freedom which did not come in his lifetime. Because he knew that he would most likely die in this work, he first completed a compilation of his writings about Auschwitz that he had entitled "Witold's Report." In 1948 at the age of 47, the Polish communist government tried Witold Pilecki for treason, tortured, and then executed this hero. Truly the world is not worthy of such a soul as was his. Then I read your post today, G.K., about living life to the full, and although the thing that I read about Witold Pilecki's life was sobering and somber, your light-hearted reminder to not squander this gift of our lives is compatible, I think. I arise from my early morning dread and now celebrate this gift that I have been given of another day. I thank God for both you and for a man I had never known about until today, and I will honor my Maker with a fortitude and grace that my desolate dreams last night had lacked. https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/witold-pilecki; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witold_Pilecki
I was going to be a smart ass and comment "Dude, switch to decaf" but I won't. Those are brilliant musings, Mr Majik, all the more so for the early hour, and a sterling commencement of your day. (I awaken later than one ought to, an avalanche of cares looming, neither fortitude nor grace at hand, grateful I suppose that I still remember the way to the men's room).
David, I hope that I never forget what I learned this morning . . . or, when I do, that I soon remember it again.
Majik, you already live an honorable life with nothing to prove. “You will know them by their fruit.”
Thank you, Heidi.
Life is often so hard and also so very beautiful sometimes.
Nothing easy about this ride….
You got that right, Sister. ❤️
Thanks ever so much. I’m going outside and rock on my Tennessee porch and watch how the light shines on my burr oak.
I laughed at "I used to write book reports for books I never read" because it brought back memories of writing book reports for my friends in school. I even got away with writing an occasional book report on short stories I read in Alfred Hitchcock's mystery magazine, a monthly gift subscription I received from my aunt. I majored in English but struggled through classical literature preferring exciting sci-fi and had a passion for English grammar, semantics, and syntax. In the early 80s I failed as an English teacher in front of too many hormonal middle schoolers even as I presented songs by Jimmy Buffett and Laurie Anderson as poetry. But I am famous among my distant friends who love my Emails and before that hand written letters. Writing pleases me and reading your column always brings joy even in times of madness. Thank you!
It is always good to write. Always!
Garrison, what's the name of your cousin's business? Chances are he and I have a connection, which means you and I do, the thought of which tickles me no end!
I have been in horticulture more than 40 years, since my wife graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in horticulture. Me? I discovered a knack for writing in my freshman year and stumbled into journalism (also, no math requirements!). Amazingly, God gave me a long and fruitful career writing for the greenhouse and garden center trade. So chances are, Wayne reads my magazines, GrowerTalks and Green Profit.
As for the tickled part, my three favorite authors are P.G. Wodehouse, Nevil Shute and Garrison Keillor. My dog-eared copies of "The Weekend Wodehouse," "On the Beach" and "WLT: A Radio Romance" will be coming with me to Assisted Living (the pinnacle of value, since you can't bring much).
Thank you for the decades of inspiration and also for your oddball rambling sentence structures, which I sometimes try to emulate to prove my stuff is written by a God-fearing human, not Grok or Chat or Gemini.