John the one day Baptizer was only six months old when his cousin Jesus was born away in a manger, and he was already dead and gone when Jesus was crucified and then arose from the grave. Therefore, he doesn’t figure in either the Christmas or Easter stories. However, I still loved your post, and we wish you as Merry a Christmas as you wish to make of it! 🎅🏻🧑🏻🎄🎄
Barbers are righteous. Stylists, not so much. Agree on the gift thing....kids, and those that need all the stuff most of us already have way too much of...should get the goods. Adults should smile and shed unnecessary paraphernalia.
I'm sharing your columns with my friends here in Wuhan, PRC. They like them. They think all Americans writing in publications are a bunch of stiffs. You've made an impact on world understanding...thanks much.
Tomorrow I will sing in a "holiday" concert, none of whose music has a single reference to John the Baptist or the birth of Jesus. All fluff. What has the world come to?
But Sunday! Classics. And next Sunday, a jazzy modern piece about the shepherds, "Run, Shepherds, Run and See the Baby."
So the world can recover from hellinahandbasket in only one week.
"Bring me my sandels, a bourbon, that dip, some dried locusts in a big bowl. And, o yea, keep the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit edition handy"... A Christmas meal homage to John the Baptist, Joseph, and men weary of the Christmas hype on the birthday of Our Lord.
I've had the same barber for over thirty years. She has had to move her shop once, but I didn't mind, although I liked the old one better. I arrive early. When it's my turn she says hello and I sit down. She drapes me in a sheet and starts to cut and trim without any instruction from me. And she talks the entire time. I just listen. It's a great relationship, one that I cherish almost as much as my marriage. As for the religion bit, we don't discuss it.
Even though I'm not a Christian or even a theist, I started going to a small downtown Presbyterian church last Easter and it became a weekly ritual. Rather than dreading Christmas, I look forward to the weekly Advent celebration culminating in the Xmas Eve service with a real organist, a real choir, and real Christians.
I used to despise those attending The Hagee Place out on Loop 1604. Now, I just feel sorry for them.
Coincidentally, I just finished my first reading of _Inferno_ , the Ciardi translation. Looking forward to the next two books of La Commedia in 2025, to brighten an otherwise hellish year.
I used a barber for decades, but COVID persuaded me to buzz my own hair and the ritual continues to this day. After reading this, I might venture back, just as I did with church.
Thank you for your thoughts--looking forward to your show in New Braunfels.
I like this- We bought a barber's hair clipper with several attachments a couple of years ago and found a bowl that fits my head, so my wife has been my unlicensed barber ever since. My regular barber had retired- it is a small town with several stylist but, his retirement left no barbers in town.. But several months ago a female barber opened a shop to fill the void. I guess my hair looks okay, but every time I walk by that new female's barber shop I wonder if she could make me look better than my wife does with our clipper and bowl.
For a time I thought Garrison's writing was disconnected, rambling. moving on to the next thing as the title shows. From John the Baptist to his father the carpenter to unread books to confession to unapologetic New Yorkers, listening to conversations on a walk to getting a haircut - short. Now I see him teaching a sermon on how all contrasts are connected, all people, in a way maybe only he understands. Though at the heart of it, I think, is humility.
Something so refreshing in this post, so thanks Garrison, for temporarily putting my feet on NY sidewalks and looking magically around (without a trip there to join in physically). Felt the 'spritz' of the moist haircut too!
No purchases for me this year. Luckily during the 12 months between Christmases I forget everything I previously heard on any Keillor CD and I get to listen to them all as if brand-new. Merry Christmas!
Ido, Philip, see a couple of them, one at Mayo and one in New York and they detect some global aphasia and some scars from a stroke or two, but I'm on a terrific anti-seizure med and that seems to be keeping me intact. I did a 2 1/2 hour show tonight in St. Paul and felt a little dizzy toward the end but I remained upright so I think I'm okay for awhile.
TY.
John the one day Baptizer was only six months old when his cousin Jesus was born away in a manger, and he was already dead and gone when Jesus was crucified and then arose from the grave. Therefore, he doesn’t figure in either the Christmas or Easter stories. However, I still loved your post, and we wish you as Merry a Christmas as you wish to make of it! 🎅🏻🧑🏻🎄🎄
Barbers are righteous. Stylists, not so much. Agree on the gift thing....kids, and those that need all the stuff most of us already have way too much of...should get the goods. Adults should smile and shed unnecessary paraphernalia.
I'm sharing your columns with my friends here in Wuhan, PRC. They like them. They think all Americans writing in publications are a bunch of stiffs. You've made an impact on world understanding...thanks much.
Thank you, Garrison.
Tomorrow I will sing in a "holiday" concert, none of whose music has a single reference to John the Baptist or the birth of Jesus. All fluff. What has the world come to?
But Sunday! Classics. And next Sunday, a jazzy modern piece about the shepherds, "Run, Shepherds, Run and See the Baby."
So the world can recover from hellinahandbasket in only one week.
Do not despair.
I've been in woolier mood, avoiding my haircutter in favor of a wilder look, though I have not begun to eat bugs. Yet. Merry Christmas, Garrison.
John the Baptist, the only other guy in the New Testament who had a whole denomination named after him.
"Bring me my sandels, a bourbon, that dip, some dried locusts in a big bowl. And, o yea, keep the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit edition handy"... A Christmas meal homage to John the Baptist, Joseph, and men weary of the Christmas hype on the birthday of Our Lord.
Substitute pork rinds, break them into smaller bits...place a sign
in front, 'Dried Locusts,' add clam dip - voila!
Let’s all take it down a notch.
No Lexus under the tree.
No Cartier watch, or new I-phone.
Enough.
Just grab a book that’s been sitting on your shelf and sit down.
Thanks Garrison.
Oh, Merry Christmas.
That which you mention is what most of us refer to as 'TV.'
I've had the same barber for over thirty years. She has had to move her shop once, but I didn't mind, although I liked the old one better. I arrive early. When it's my turn she says hello and I sit down. She drapes me in a sheet and starts to cut and trim without any instruction from me. And she talks the entire time. I just listen. It's a great relationship, one that I cherish almost as much as my marriage. As for the religion bit, we don't discuss it.
Even though I'm not a Christian or even a theist, I started going to a small downtown Presbyterian church last Easter and it became a weekly ritual. Rather than dreading Christmas, I look forward to the weekly Advent celebration culminating in the Xmas Eve service with a real organist, a real choir, and real Christians.
I used to despise those attending The Hagee Place out on Loop 1604. Now, I just feel sorry for them.
Coincidentally, I just finished my first reading of _Inferno_ , the Ciardi translation. Looking forward to the next two books of La Commedia in 2025, to brighten an otherwise hellish year.
I used a barber for decades, but COVID persuaded me to buzz my own hair and the ritual continues to this day. After reading this, I might venture back, just as I did with church.
Thank you for your thoughts--looking forward to your show in New Braunfels.
Ciardi translation is a beauty. Enjoy.
I like this- We bought a barber's hair clipper with several attachments a couple of years ago and found a bowl that fits my head, so my wife has been my unlicensed barber ever since. My regular barber had retired- it is a small town with several stylist but, his retirement left no barbers in town.. But several months ago a female barber opened a shop to fill the void. I guess my hair looks okay, but every time I walk by that new female's barber shop I wonder if she could make me look better than my wife does with our clipper and bowl.
For a time I thought Garrison's writing was disconnected, rambling. moving on to the next thing as the title shows. From John the Baptist to his father the carpenter to unread books to confession to unapologetic New Yorkers, listening to conversations on a walk to getting a haircut - short. Now I see him teaching a sermon on how all contrasts are connected, all people, in a way maybe only he understands. Though at the heart of it, I think, is humility.
Something so refreshing in this post, so thanks Garrison, for temporarily putting my feet on NY sidewalks and looking magically around (without a trip there to join in physically). Felt the 'spritz' of the moist haircut too!
Locust
Beans.
Sheesh!
No purchases for me this year. Luckily during the 12 months between Christmases I forget everything I previously heard on any Keillor CD and I get to listen to them all as if brand-new. Merry Christmas!
Mr. Keillor, Do you see a neurologist on a regular basis. As an 84 year old who does I would recommend it to you.
Be well, Philip Freedman
Ido, Philip, see a couple of them, one at Mayo and one in New York and they detect some global aphasia and some scars from a stroke or two, but I'm on a terrific anti-seizure med and that seems to be keeping me intact. I did a 2 1/2 hour show tonight in St. Paul and felt a little dizzy toward the end but I remained upright so I think I'm okay for awhile.