Glad to report I have my tickets for your August event in Red Bank and relatively affordable lodging just outside of town. Having graduated from high school there in 1962, it will be a true walk down memory lane. Of course, I’ll have to nap before the 7 o’clock show which will be difficult because I’m so excited to see you in person.
Samuel Clemens would have loved this, and you... "The show was inspired by an article I wrote for The New Yorker about the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and being published there rather than in Popular Mechanics or Good Housekeeping gave me a patina of sophistication that appealed to the elitists of public radio and they opened the temple doors to me and on many stations, “Pie Aroma in Microphone” followed the Metropolitan Opera broadcast, sort of like the tail wagging the Wagner. And my hero John Updike, back in the days of White Male Authorship, got me into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, one of only three humorists in the club, which looks darned good on my résumé. People from my hometown of Anoka, Minnesota, look at that and think, “Him? He didn’t even make National Honor Society in high school. He got a B minus in English and even that was generous.”
I took Geoff Merrill's comment as a (snide) response to Adam's repetitious, and I might go as far as to say, 'plagiaristic' comment. In spite of being honored by Your reply I take it, along with a grain of salt, as sarcasm. Still love you, more.
So many gems in today's message but this stood out for me. “If I’m wrong about the afterlife, no problem, I’ll just cease to be, but if you’re wrong and you face God, I’d like to see you talk your way out of that.” This is you Garrison, very basic but true to the core.
“If you're right about the afterlife, no problem, I’ll just cease to be. If you’re wrong and you face God I’d like to see you talk your way out of that.”
Well, will it be door number one or door number two for you? Think hard before you answer that one.
The comment about the afterlife made me wish the Pie Aroma show was still being broadcast live. There’s an eclectic folk-bluegrass band from Regina called “The Dead South” that would have fit right in.
Though I am many years past what most consider "commencement", you have been there for me through many of my transition. When I moved from Minnesota where standing behind you in line at Kowalski's, having pie on the porch with you at the Fitzgerald and bumping into, literally, you at MSP are among my fondest memories. When I got divorced for the second time, I told myself that it was ok because after all, it had happened to you and you were ok. And when I decided to take the plunge again, I found, as you have, the third time is a charm. And now, living in North Carolina, where I don't truly feel as if I belong, your book, Cheerfulness, has given me a way to commence with dignity, grace and good humor. I truly would not have been able to move through all the places and spaces I have occupied in the last 40 years without your books in my lap or your voice in my ear that came with the advent of audiobooks. Grateful for you, Garrison. Soldier on, dear one!
It might be a nice moment if you would write more about the feeling of not belonging (North Carolina). I'm starting to feel that way about an entire planet that has apparently tilted so far off its axis as to qualify for the "upended" category.
Well, if that's the case we will all fall into the abyss together. And maybe, just maybe, we will grab one another's hands on the way down. (She writes hopefully). Listen to a little bit of Cheerfulness. It's good for what ails so many of us in these trying times :)
*The comment about the afterlife made me wish the Pie Aroma show was still being broadcast live.*
Yes, me too. It was a ritual, something to look forward to. I’m glad they’re doing the live shows on the road, but I’ll probably never have a chance to get to one of those.
Didn't you once write that you have never gone back and reread any of your old books? Well, you should make an exception with WLT: A Radio Romance. I've read it at least two dozen times, and it, along with A Town Like Alice and Wodehouse on Golf, are my three Desert Island books (although I supposed the Foxfire collection would prove more useful). Anyway, glad to hear you are writing some more bawdy humor - you do it well, as WLT proves. Thanks for years of smiles!
Your (?) avatar appears to be similar to imagery the University of Illinois has been associated with. If so, that university has done your work for you in building a (very fine) university. That said, I confess that I don't really understand your comment.
It gives me pleasure knowing that I'm not the only person who likes Holiday Inn Express hotels. On a recent trip to southern New Mexico, my wife and I stayed at three different ones. At one we were upgraded, which often happens. They all somehow know that we prefer the top floor away from the elevators. How do they know these things? Come to think of it, that's a bit troubling. But I love the omelets.
Glad to report I have my tickets for your August event in Red Bank and relatively affordable lodging just outside of town. Having graduated from high school there in 1962, it will be a true walk down memory lane. Of course, I’ll have to nap before the 7 o’clock show which will be difficult because I’m so excited to see you in person.
Reading you from Italy, glad that there is another 80 yr old doing this Substack thing.
Samuel Clemens would have loved this, and you... "The show was inspired by an article I wrote for The New Yorker about the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and being published there rather than in Popular Mechanics or Good Housekeeping gave me a patina of sophistication that appealed to the elitists of public radio and they opened the temple doors to me and on many stations, “Pie Aroma in Microphone” followed the Metropolitan Opera broadcast, sort of like the tail wagging the Wagner. And my hero John Updike, back in the days of White Male Authorship, got me into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, one of only three humorists in the club, which looks darned good on my résumé. People from my hometown of Anoka, Minnesota, look at that and think, “Him? He didn’t even make National Honor Society in high school. He got a B minus in English and even that was generous.”
I think I may have just read that.
Me, too...you suppose there's an echo in here??
Very funny.
I took Geoff Merrill's comment as a (snide) response to Adam's repetitious, and I might go as far as to say, 'plagiaristic' comment. In spite of being honored by Your reply I take it, along with a grain of salt, as sarcasm. Still love you, more.
So many gems in today's message but this stood out for me. “If I’m wrong about the afterlife, no problem, I’ll just cease to be, but if you’re wrong and you face God, I’d like to see you talk your way out of that.” This is you Garrison, very basic but true to the core.
“If you're right about the afterlife, no problem, I’ll just cease to be. If you’re wrong and you face God I’d like to see you talk your way out of that.”
Well, will it be door number one or door number two for you? Think hard before you answer that one.
The comment about the afterlife made me wish the Pie Aroma show was still being broadcast live. There’s an eclectic folk-bluegrass band from Regina called “The Dead South” that would have fit right in.
Though I am many years past what most consider "commencement", you have been there for me through many of my transition. When I moved from Minnesota where standing behind you in line at Kowalski's, having pie on the porch with you at the Fitzgerald and bumping into, literally, you at MSP are among my fondest memories. When I got divorced for the second time, I told myself that it was ok because after all, it had happened to you and you were ok. And when I decided to take the plunge again, I found, as you have, the third time is a charm. And now, living in North Carolina, where I don't truly feel as if I belong, your book, Cheerfulness, has given me a way to commence with dignity, grace and good humor. I truly would not have been able to move through all the places and spaces I have occupied in the last 40 years without your books in my lap or your voice in my ear that came with the advent of audiobooks. Grateful for you, Garrison. Soldier on, dear one!
It might be a nice moment if you would write more about the feeling of not belonging (North Carolina). I'm starting to feel that way about an entire planet that has apparently tilted so far off its axis as to qualify for the "upended" category.
Well, if that's the case we will all fall into the abyss together. And maybe, just maybe, we will grab one another's hands on the way down. (She writes hopefully). Listen to a little bit of Cheerfulness. It's good for what ails so many of us in these trying times :)
*The comment about the afterlife made me wish the Pie Aroma show was still being broadcast live.*
Yes, me too. It was a ritual, something to look forward to. I’m glad they’re doing the live shows on the road, but I’ll probably never have a chance to get to one of those.
Why buy the cow when you get the Guy free?
Glad you are an Episcopalian.And I am especially glad your wife is, too.
billbrese@gmail.com
Didn't you once write that you have never gone back and reread any of your old books? Well, you should make an exception with WLT: A Radio Romance. I've read it at least two dozen times, and it, along with A Town Like Alice and Wodehouse on Golf, are my three Desert Island books (although I supposed the Foxfire collection would prove more useful). Anyway, glad to hear you are writing some more bawdy humor - you do it well, as WLT proves. Thanks for years of smiles!
I’ll first have to build a university. Do you mind waiting?
Your (?) avatar appears to be similar to imagery the University of Illinois has been associated with. If so, that university has done your work for you in building a (very fine) university. That said, I confess that I don't really understand your comment.
It gives me pleasure knowing that I'm not the only person who likes Holiday Inn Express hotels. On a recent trip to southern New Mexico, my wife and I stayed at three different ones. At one we were upgraded, which often happens. They all somehow know that we prefer the top floor away from the elevators. How do they know these things? Come to think of it, that's a bit troubling. But I love the omelets.
81 is very old and it's challenging. I was 81 once, a long time ago, but I got past it.
Have you tried standing outside the tub to turn on the shower before getting in? It usually works better that way.
The simplicity often evades discovery..l😂😂😂