"Stop and smell the roses" is the phrase you should remember. Life is like a painting by Paul Gauguin or Vincent van Gogh. It is unique, mysterious, beautiful even when it's painful. Eighty years and all those people and experiences. All the words you have written and said. All the responses from your friends and loved ones. We only see and hear this once. Enjoy and relish this cornucopia we call life.
Semicolons are not only used to link main clauses. They can also be used in complicated lists. Elements in a list are usually separated by commas. But if the elements themselves contain commas, semicolons are used to separate them.
Fifty years in the same house with 49 years of clutter. 50 years of Christmas decorations piled in the cellar. We just replaced the shingles again, Two bookcases with a serious heft of dust. Whatsaboytodo? Imagine. Don't envy me and I won't reciprocate. It takes all kinds, I guess. Bless you for not trying to crank me up.
The trash is picked up every Thursday so I go through the fridge Wednesday night cull the moldy, the squishy, the fuzzy. I also scoop the litter box that evening. I’m only 70, so you’ve given me a model for the future as regards clothing.
Poignant reminders of what matters most: • love • self-observation without judgment • atonement • heading in the direction of peace and sanity. Thank you, Garrison Keillor. Here's the Library of Congress poem for today; we who still have nearby loved ones can appreciate:
Amazing Garrison. I too watch baseball games without the sound and I thought I was the only one. Why do I need an announcer telling me the left fielder caught the ball. I certainly can see that. Actually I sometimes put the classical radio on at the same time and serendipitously occasionally the music reflects the action. Last night the Yankee infield made two amazing plays late in the game that made my night. Glad to know I have a brother in silence. (I remember watching the famous football game in the 1970's with just crowd noise.)-Take care-David
I do the same thing. I'm a huge Yankees fan but some of the color commentators this season drove me nuts. So I mute the telly, turn on Chopin and Debussy and listen to them while reading a book and looking up if something fun happens.
We watch baseball without the sound and listen to the BSO, SiriusXM Met Opera Radio or Symphony Hall. If you understand baseball there is no need to listen to the idiotic commentary. We usually have the subtitles on and laugh at the errors in them.
OK: this was simply wonderful. I read it to my husband (83 years on this earth) and got those things called tears in my eyes. Silence is truly golden! And of course there is that thing called gratitude for how we are -
I love baseball too. For me the world slows down. I love its simplicity So did my grandmother. A true Yankee fan who wanted her ashes over Yankee Stadium. And so I i did, along the 3rd baseline in the late 70s. I am hopeful the Pinstripes will rally for Game 3. They are a great team.
This is for your entertainment. It's a short video of the rookie shortstop Oswald Peraza of the Yankees. He knows the big shoes that used to kick that same dirt between 2nd and 3rd base at Yankee Stadium and yet in his first ever major league playoff game, he seemed to have already read today's column, because as you said, "it’s about the art of baseball, the sharp reflexes of infielders." I especially enjoyed his play at the 1:10 mark of the video where rather than catch the grounder in his glove, he deflected it to his throwing hand. It's baseball ballet. Enjoy!
I think that it was Hemingway who said to be a good writer, one needs to have a good BS detector.
I suppose that as one gets older, one gets better at detecting BS or at least I think that in my case I am better at it. If you cut out the BS that cuts out a lot of television programs, books, magazines, politics, a lot of acquaintances who love to run on about nothing, etc. But I don't consider myself a writer unless writing these little comments qualifies.
You mention enjoying your conversations with friends. I love having a good conversation with someone who is good to talk with and I find that I like to talk over the telephone rather than in person. But the problem is that it is hard to find people who are interesting to talk with. Over the course of a week I interact with many people but most of this interaction is just asking how they are, discussion of the weather, and wishing them a good day.
"Masculinity in crisis" sounds like just a fad that someone came up with to sell books. Writers and the media do that. Invent solutions to problems that we did not know existed just so they can sell books and get people to watch tv.
Cut out the BS and give yourself more spare time. But my problem is the less I do, the faster time goes by.
Best wishes Garrision and best wishes to one and all. I hope everyone has a nice day and a nice life.
Another comment: Garrision mentions cleaning out and decluttering. We have about 30 years of accumulation here but have no plans to declutter. I figure what are heirs for? When we pass away nieces and nephews will inherit everything. They will need something to do. They can get off their lazy . . . . . Well you understand.
As for baseball; I don't like to watch sports but the one exception to this is baseball if I can go with a friend who is good to talk to and we can take peanuts and beer to enjoy as we discuss the worlds problems and occasionally watch the game.
I always tell my husband that if I outlive him, his children and I will have to get a dumpster in the yard for all of his junk. He has a serious hoarding problem and I'm not much better.
Thanks for the comment. Despite what I said, we do not have a serious clutter problem except for books. I am very selective about books that I buy, but if I buy one I want to keep it because I probably will reread or use it again. I have discarded books only to wish later that I had them. Best wishes and have a nice life.
Best GK posting in a long time. Maybe it is because I agreed with all of GK’s observations. Aging induces an appreciation of silence. G’’s observations reminded me of a conversation that I had once with my friend, Donald Hall, the poet and frequent guest of GK on PHC. Don had visited us at our home a few times, and one day he explained why he and Jane (Kenyon) no longer enjoyed leaving their home and going anyplace. They really enjoyed their time alone together without the distraction of conversational entertaining - even with friends whom they enjoyed spending time with occasionally. Théy liked their life together, and it was how they preferred to spend their time. So, why would they complicate it? Like GK, Don loved watching baseball without the television commentator, but instead Don listened to radio announcers whom he felt had a better understanding and presented a more entertaining analysis of the sport. Old guys know what they’ve done carelessly, and they realize that they have a l’invitée time left. I’m giving away books, clothes and assorted stuff I know that I have not much time left to use again.
"Stop and smell the roses" is the phrase you should remember. Life is like a painting by Paul Gauguin or Vincent van Gogh. It is unique, mysterious, beautiful even when it's painful. Eighty years and all those people and experiences. All the words you have written and said. All the responses from your friends and loved ones. We only see and hear this once. Enjoy and relish this cornucopia we call life.
Semicolons are not only used to link main clauses. They can also be used in complicated lists. Elements in a list are usually separated by commas. But if the elements themselves contain commas, semicolons are used to separate them.
Jejeje!
Fifty years in the same house with 49 years of clutter. 50 years of Christmas decorations piled in the cellar. We just replaced the shingles again, Two bookcases with a serious heft of dust. Whatsaboytodo? Imagine. Don't envy me and I won't reciprocate. It takes all kinds, I guess. Bless you for not trying to crank me up.
The trash is picked up every Thursday so I go through the fridge Wednesday night cull the moldy, the squishy, the fuzzy. I also scoop the litter box that evening. I’m only 70, so you’ve given me a model for the future as regards clothing.
"I used to sneak out of the house to go to parties; now, I sneak out of parties to go home."
Poignant reminders of what matters most: • love • self-observation without judgment • atonement • heading in the direction of peace and sanity. Thank you, Garrison Keillor. Here's the Library of Congress poem for today; we who still have nearby loved ones can appreciate:
Poem 033: The Meadow
Half the day lost, staring
at this window. I wanted to know
just one true thing
about the soul, but I left thinking
for thought, and now—
two inches of snow have fallen
over the meadow. Where did I go,
how long was I out looking
for you?, who would never leave me,
my withness, my here.
—Kate Knapp Johnson
Amazing Garrison. I too watch baseball games without the sound and I thought I was the only one. Why do I need an announcer telling me the left fielder caught the ball. I certainly can see that. Actually I sometimes put the classical radio on at the same time and serendipitously occasionally the music reflects the action. Last night the Yankee infield made two amazing plays late in the game that made my night. Glad to know I have a brother in silence. (I remember watching the famous football game in the 1970's with just crowd noise.)-Take care-David
I do the same thing. I'm a huge Yankees fan but some of the color commentators this season drove me nuts. So I mute the telly, turn on Chopin and Debussy and listen to them while reading a book and looking up if something fun happens.
Another brother in silence-Baroque usually works for me.
We watch baseball without the sound and listen to the BSO, SiriusXM Met Opera Radio or Symphony Hall. If you understand baseball there is no need to listen to the idiotic commentary. We usually have the subtitles on and laugh at the errors in them.
Less may be enough... Hush
Winter’s heavy snowfall
cradles the pine log cabin
tucked into the North Woods
a world away from home
Two windows a room apart
face a secluded frozen lake
I gaze toward one vista
my lover sits before the other
As the sun reaches its zenith
we bow and exchange places
wrapped in a silence
no city will ever embrace
Drawn by a soft drumming
I tilt an ear toward the window
astounded by the faint echoes
of my own beating heart
Bobbi Zehner
Exquisite, thank you.
My heart swells. Thank you.
OK: this was simply wonderful. I read it to my husband (83 years on this earth) and got those things called tears in my eyes. Silence is truly golden! And of course there is that thing called gratitude for how we are -
Thank you!!
I love what you do to my imagination. Thank you!
I love baseball too. For me the world slows down. I love its simplicity So did my grandmother. A true Yankee fan who wanted her ashes over Yankee Stadium. And so I i did, along the 3rd baseline in the late 70s. I am hopeful the Pinstripes will rally for Game 3. They are a great team.
Nice wink ;
GK,
This is for your entertainment. It's a short video of the rookie shortstop Oswald Peraza of the Yankees. He knows the big shoes that used to kick that same dirt between 2nd and 3rd base at Yankee Stadium and yet in his first ever major league playoff game, he seemed to have already read today's column, because as you said, "it’s about the art of baseball, the sharp reflexes of infielders." I especially enjoyed his play at the 1:10 mark of the video where rather than catch the grounder in his glove, he deflected it to his throwing hand. It's baseball ballet. Enjoy!
https://www.mlb.com/news/oswald-peraza-shines-in-game-2-2022-alcs
Paul
Pennsylvania
Thanks for all the memories. Please keep writing!
I understand. I'm 82. I love semicolons, but I've become shy about using them; I'm afraid my younger friends will think I'm being pretentious.
You should't hesitate to use semicolons - others might learn from your example!
At 82, you may be whatever you like; use them! 😘
I think that it was Hemingway who said to be a good writer, one needs to have a good BS detector.
I suppose that as one gets older, one gets better at detecting BS or at least I think that in my case I am better at it. If you cut out the BS that cuts out a lot of television programs, books, magazines, politics, a lot of acquaintances who love to run on about nothing, etc. But I don't consider myself a writer unless writing these little comments qualifies.
You mention enjoying your conversations with friends. I love having a good conversation with someone who is good to talk with and I find that I like to talk over the telephone rather than in person. But the problem is that it is hard to find people who are interesting to talk with. Over the course of a week I interact with many people but most of this interaction is just asking how they are, discussion of the weather, and wishing them a good day.
"Masculinity in crisis" sounds like just a fad that someone came up with to sell books. Writers and the media do that. Invent solutions to problems that we did not know existed just so they can sell books and get people to watch tv.
Cut out the BS and give yourself more spare time. But my problem is the less I do, the faster time goes by.
Best wishes Garrision and best wishes to one and all. I hope everyone has a nice day and a nice life.
Another comment: Garrision mentions cleaning out and decluttering. We have about 30 years of accumulation here but have no plans to declutter. I figure what are heirs for? When we pass away nieces and nephews will inherit everything. They will need something to do. They can get off their lazy . . . . . Well you understand.
As for baseball; I don't like to watch sports but the one exception to this is baseball if I can go with a friend who is good to talk to and we can take peanuts and beer to enjoy as we discuss the worlds problems and occasionally watch the game.
I always tell my husband that if I outlive him, his children and I will have to get a dumpster in the yard for all of his junk. He has a serious hoarding problem and I'm not much better.
Thanks for the comment. Despite what I said, we do not have a serious clutter problem except for books. I am very selective about books that I buy, but if I buy one I want to keep it because I probably will reread or use it again. I have discarded books only to wish later that I had them. Best wishes and have a nice life.
Best GK posting in a long time. Maybe it is because I agreed with all of GK’s observations. Aging induces an appreciation of silence. G’’s observations reminded me of a conversation that I had once with my friend, Donald Hall, the poet and frequent guest of GK on PHC. Don had visited us at our home a few times, and one day he explained why he and Jane (Kenyon) no longer enjoyed leaving their home and going anyplace. They really enjoyed their time alone together without the distraction of conversational entertaining - even with friends whom they enjoyed spending time with occasionally. Théy liked their life together, and it was how they preferred to spend their time. So, why would they complicate it? Like GK, Don loved watching baseball without the television commentator, but instead Don listened to radio announcers whom he felt had a better understanding and presented a more entertaining analysis of the sport. Old guys know what they’ve done carelessly, and they realize that they have a l’invitée time left. I’m giving away books, clothes and assorted stuff I know that I have not much time left to use again.