I skipped the part about "Oh, Mary!" as I am seeing it on Sunday. I won't mind if it's trashy as long as it is also funny.
I moved to NYC in 1988 and while I come from a small town near Buffalo, NY, I always say my soul was born in Manhattan. Except for my first year, I have always lived on the Upper West Side. Manhattan was dirty and dangerous when I moved here but incredibly affordable which it decidedly is not now.
I'm always delighted when your column appears in my inbox. A lovely moment of intelligence, insight and gentle humor. Thank you.
A person after my own heart ... my bro & I don't care how trashy, vulgar politically incorrect or even STUPID a joke or a performance is: if it's FUNNY, all is forgiven. 😏
Garrison thank you for the smile on my face which helps relieve the tears of depression. You are just two years older than I am. You help me replace grief with thanks. Medicine for melancholy.
Thank you from a woman who grew up in Canada - another place of decency and humility - who has called NYC home for decades but who woke up this morning to a red moon, feeling blue about missing those she loved the most because of their versions of bad patches, and voila! Reading your piece reminded me that a spoonful of humor helps the medicine go down. It's also worth remembering that we are all lucky to be here, until we aren't. Thank you, and amen.
I would not have guessed you would see Oh Mary. As a matter of fact, same goes for me. But, I think the essence lay in Cole Escola’s sense of humor (and timing). Yes, the premise was absurd. But, nice to see an 80 minute one act sprint (I am tired of 3 hour, two act marathons that plod along). I suppose the key (for me) was not to take it too seriously. I can’t help but think that I would find it even funnier the second time, as it flew by. Welcome back to Tanglewood.
"A conditional compliment" is classic Minnesotan, whenever we get it and how. Plus, it takes your mind after one's anus-entry...plus, it's not what place where we think. Sorbonne included, so much as how.....for which you do quite well, Sir!
At your later 80 age, you are still incredibly mobile in body and mind. No one, and I mean no one no one, surpasses your marvelous your thinking and doing at the mid-80's. That teacher of yours who gave you readings many years ago, gave you and us your readers that gift that keeps on giving.
God bless you lad. I'm in my later 80's too. But I can still read your many thinkings and doings now, even if I can't do my own as well .
They are, as my father used to say, "places of our own." But yours are made our own too, no matter where they are posited..
I saw you perform once in Syr NY an hour from where I live in Oswego, N.Y. I grew up in New Glarus, Wisconsin where you had to be Swiss or else there was somewhere else you should call home. I’m UCC but currently supplying an ELCA church in Fulton, NY. I’m getting to know some fine Lutheran people in my 82nd year. Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyway, your writing always strikes a responsive chord. I’m one among the millions grateful for your life’s journey and for what happens for us all as you write….✨✨✨
Great column Garrison. When you reflect back in time it helps me to remember similar things in my past that I have forgotten. Thanks.
But as your column points out, it does sometime suck being human with all the stupidity and the mistakes we make. But on the other hand I suppose making that realization about being human makes it easier to forgive others.
I've been thinking about nurse's remark. It does happen that singers improve with age, like Jackson Browne. But more importantly, you should realize that said a wonderful thing. At an age when it is natural to look back wistfully at the effortless wonders of our youth, knowing for a fact that we are getting better and better should be energizing!
A wonderful column. Thank you, Mr. Keillor.
Love,
Faithful readers and Democrats in Oklahoma City.
Heather, "WE'LL ALL BE HERE 'TIL WE AREN'T ...." SO SIMPLE ...ALMOST elegant ..
I LIKE It! 😉
Thank you for awakening my feeling of profound gratitude in the morning of a spectacular early spring day in March of 2025.
I skipped the part about "Oh, Mary!" as I am seeing it on Sunday. I won't mind if it's trashy as long as it is also funny.
I moved to NYC in 1988 and while I come from a small town near Buffalo, NY, I always say my soul was born in Manhattan. Except for my first year, I have always lived on the Upper West Side. Manhattan was dirty and dangerous when I moved here but incredibly affordable which it decidedly is not now.
I'm always delighted when your column appears in my inbox. A lovely moment of intelligence, insight and gentle humor. Thank you.
A person after my own heart ... my bro & I don't care how trashy, vulgar politically incorrect or even STUPID a joke or a performance is: if it's FUNNY, all is forgiven. 😏
Garrison thank you for the smile on my face which helps relieve the tears of depression. You are just two years older than I am. You help me replace grief with thanks. Medicine for melancholy.
Thank you Lord...credit where credit is due...
Thank you from a woman who grew up in Canada - another place of decency and humility - who has called NYC home for decades but who woke up this morning to a red moon, feeling blue about missing those she loved the most because of their versions of bad patches, and voila! Reading your piece reminded me that a spoonful of humor helps the medicine go down. It's also worth remembering that we are all lucky to be here, until we aren't. Thank you, and amen.
I would not have guessed you would see Oh Mary. As a matter of fact, same goes for me. But, I think the essence lay in Cole Escola’s sense of humor (and timing). Yes, the premise was absurd. But, nice to see an 80 minute one act sprint (I am tired of 3 hour, two act marathons that plod along). I suppose the key (for me) was not to take it too seriously. I can’t help but think that I would find it even funnier the second time, as it flew by. Welcome back to Tanglewood.
Love that last line. Beautiful.
"A conditional compliment" is classic Minnesotan, whenever we get it and how. Plus, it takes your mind after one's anus-entry...plus, it's not what place where we think. Sorbonne included, so much as how.....for which you do quite well, Sir!
At your later 80 age, you are still incredibly mobile in body and mind. No one, and I mean no one no one, surpasses your marvelous your thinking and doing at the mid-80's. That teacher of yours who gave you readings many years ago, gave you and us your readers that gift that keeps on giving.
God bless you lad. I'm in my later 80's too. But I can still read your many thinkings and doings now, even if I can't do my own as well .
They are, as my father used to say, "places of our own." But yours are made our own too, no matter where they are posited..
That teacher was my father.😁
I saw you perform once in Syr NY an hour from where I live in Oswego, N.Y. I grew up in New Glarus, Wisconsin where you had to be Swiss or else there was somewhere else you should call home. I’m UCC but currently supplying an ELCA church in Fulton, NY. I’m getting to know some fine Lutheran people in my 82nd year. Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyway, your writing always strikes a responsive chord. I’m one among the millions grateful for your life’s journey and for what happens for us all as you write….✨✨✨
“I think your singing has improved a lot over the years.” The conditional compliment is classic Minnesotan.
Here in Delaware we call that a backhanded compliment. Hilarious. Thank you.
Finding you again on Sibstack is the best thing that has happened to me all year!
You need to get out more. :)
A cliché, but you're living your best life. Wish we could all say that.
Great column Garrison. When you reflect back in time it helps me to remember similar things in my past that I have forgotten. Thanks.
But as your column points out, it does sometime suck being human with all the stupidity and the mistakes we make. But on the other hand I suppose making that realization about being human makes it easier to forgive others.
Such a honest and uplifting column during such a down period of our country's history. Thank you
I've been thinking about nurse's remark. It does happen that singers improve with age, like Jackson Browne. But more importantly, you should realize that said a wonderful thing. At an age when it is natural to look back wistfully at the effortless wonders of our youth, knowing for a fact that we are getting better and better should be energizing!