Grady Nutt, the Hee Haw comedian who taught our Sunday School class at Crescent Hill Baptist Church, told us once, “I’ve never met a mature person who was ashamed of where they came from.”
Growing up in a small NC mill town I have worked all my life trying to be mature. Seems you got there.
I'm about your vintage, Garrison. My dad, who was born in 1907, taught me to type on his Underwood typewriter. When I asked him years ago if he might like an electric typewriter, he said, "No, they go too fast." I make do with my computer, but I sometimes feel the same way. Looking forward to Boom Town.
Really enjoyed reading that Garrison...I've visited my dear friend in Edina, MN, several times over the last 40 years, even in the depths of winter, so even as a Brit I can fully appreciate your sentiments.
I loved the line about your experience in the NYC Public Library (one of my fav places in that fantastic city...) as it is similar to the sheer buzz I get when I visit my eldest son studying at the University College London, and leave somewhat jealous at his establishing friendships with so many wonderful diverse colleagues from all over.
I've just started reading The Lake Wobegon Virus and will pick up my signed copy of 'Boomtown' off my chum in San Fran when I visit him next April...it'll be my reading material as he and I, and another Brit friend, drive from Austin to Nashville via New Orleans and Memphis over three weeks on a Music & Civil Rights pilgrimage.
I have to confess that my childlike excitement of this trip is tempered somewhat as a consequence of my being a proud 'bleeding heart liberal' of 63, where I'm a little concerned about saying the wrong thing while travelling around in this neck of the woods, but hopefully all will be fine. I have a tendency to look for the good in people thankfully...
Anyway, I wish you health and happiness in order to complete those other books !
I'm a Midwesterner a generation behind you and have found wonder every place I've lived since - Florida, Alaska, North Carolina, Michigan - but somehow I've never felt the same sense of awe in my home state of Ohio. It's just where I'm from and where history is just who we are. Johnny Appleseed. McKinley. The Tafts. Wilbur and Orville. Clark Gable. The Browns. The Ind... I mean, Guardians. We get together in large stadium crowds and practice spelling our state's name in kind of a responsive-reading format while we root for a college powerhouse with a nut for a mascot.
You’ve mostly nailed my experience as a life-long Minnesotan. We juggle a mix of righteousness and humility. But I’d describe my 13 years in Recovery in different terms. I don’t hear any accusatory talks in my meeting. More confession and acceptance. The 12-step program has given me a way to live a more sane and virtuous life and the possibility of some relief from my addiction. Anonymity doesn’t allow for much boasting, however, so it’s a perfect Minnesota success story.
As A former Hazelden visitor for 28 days, when 40 below helped me decide to stay for the full monty. I dont know if the program, or the Temp my second week there gave me a second chance,
but it was also the time that I began to listen to that quirky program on the radio Saturday evenings.
Perhaps it took a bit more for me to enjoy my next 9,600 days
We saw your show in RI a few weeks ago, with our 30-something daughter & son-in-law, and you had the whole place laughing & singing sentimental songs and remembering a simpler sweeter time. It was very poignant. You are a marvel! a magician! an alchemist!! And so important for our youngers to experience your tradition of classical American humor. Thank you for hitting the road and being there for us in 3D. It was a much needed, reaffirming treat.
Keep telling your stories, GK. Stories stick. Tomes don't. Take "The Brothers K." A potent book with several lessons worth our knowing, but later in our years they are buried in forgotten Russian names. Memories much more sticky and worthy are the stories told vocally, like my Aunt Beirtha told us kids and now you tell us.
Those told stories, poems and songs last far longer than those written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. There were verses and songs from Betha., some sad and some funny. She's gone now and I'm closer to it, so I find myself grateful you stil stand and deliver. She sat us and gathered us and told us. Good stories are what grab us and what stick, and two-part harmony has a lesson too.
Mark Twain was a great story-teller both on the page and with an audience. We don't know if he could sing, but I think not. He could write and he could tell stories. So can you. How lucky is that! Plus, "Boom Town" has no Russian names.
I have a technical question for you. I edit my husband's weekly news column on Law and Order (his PhD from U of MN) and wondered why we're supposed to capitalize Blacks but not whites per AP style? I have been opting to give equal time to White but noticed today you don't capitalize it either. Why? Or are you a slave to AP?! (meant in jest).
That was beautiful. Thank you for a lovely start to my day.
Grady Nutt, the Hee Haw comedian who taught our Sunday School class at Crescent Hill Baptist Church, told us once, “I’ve never met a mature person who was ashamed of where they came from.”
Growing up in a small NC mill town I have worked all my life trying to be mature. Seems you got there.
Thank you
I'm about your vintage, Garrison. My dad, who was born in 1907, taught me to type on his Underwood typewriter. When I asked him years ago if he might like an electric typewriter, he said, "No, they go too fast." I make do with my computer, but I sometimes feel the same way. Looking forward to Boom Town.
Fitzgerald "was good but he was no Hemingway"? What? That's like saying, "Willie Mays was good but he was no Reggie Jackson."
Very nice. Thank you for being.
We are in New York and spent a big chuck of yesterday in Central Park. Was hoping to run into you. I enjoy your NYC musings.
Take care and enjoy a "coffee regular " for both of us! Catch you next time.
Really enjoyed reading that Garrison...I've visited my dear friend in Edina, MN, several times over the last 40 years, even in the depths of winter, so even as a Brit I can fully appreciate your sentiments.
I loved the line about your experience in the NYC Public Library (one of my fav places in that fantastic city...) as it is similar to the sheer buzz I get when I visit my eldest son studying at the University College London, and leave somewhat jealous at his establishing friendships with so many wonderful diverse colleagues from all over.
I've just started reading The Lake Wobegon Virus and will pick up my signed copy of 'Boomtown' off my chum in San Fran when I visit him next April...it'll be my reading material as he and I, and another Brit friend, drive from Austin to Nashville via New Orleans and Memphis over three weeks on a Music & Civil Rights pilgrimage.
I have to confess that my childlike excitement of this trip is tempered somewhat as a consequence of my being a proud 'bleeding heart liberal' of 63, where I'm a little concerned about saying the wrong thing while travelling around in this neck of the woods, but hopefully all will be fine. I have a tendency to look for the good in people thankfully...
Anyway, I wish you health and happiness in order to complete those other books !
I'm a Midwesterner a generation behind you and have found wonder every place I've lived since - Florida, Alaska, North Carolina, Michigan - but somehow I've never felt the same sense of awe in my home state of Ohio. It's just where I'm from and where history is just who we are. Johnny Appleseed. McKinley. The Tafts. Wilbur and Orville. Clark Gable. The Browns. The Ind... I mean, Guardians. We get together in large stadium crowds and practice spelling our state's name in kind of a responsive-reading format while we root for a college powerhouse with a nut for a mascot.
You’ve mostly nailed my experience as a life-long Minnesotan. We juggle a mix of righteousness and humility. But I’d describe my 13 years in Recovery in different terms. I don’t hear any accusatory talks in my meeting. More confession and acceptance. The 12-step program has given me a way to live a more sane and virtuous life and the possibility of some relief from my addiction. Anonymity doesn’t allow for much boasting, however, so it’s a perfect Minnesota success story.
As A former Hazelden visitor for 28 days, when 40 below helped me decide to stay for the full monty. I dont know if the program, or the Temp my second week there gave me a second chance,
but it was also the time that I began to listen to that quirky program on the radio Saturday evenings.
Perhaps it took a bit more for me to enjoy my next 9,600 days
LQQKing forward to a Live show near Chicago.
As always, true and from the heart.
We saw your show in RI a few weeks ago, with our 30-something daughter & son-in-law, and you had the whole place laughing & singing sentimental songs and remembering a simpler sweeter time. It was very poignant. You are a marvel! a magician! an alchemist!! And so important for our youngers to experience your tradition of classical American humor. Thank you for hitting the road and being there for us in 3D. It was a much needed, reaffirming treat.
Sorry that no one on your staff caught the picture of Joe McCarthy being selected instead of one of Eugene McCarthy. Clean Gene deserved better.
Keep telling your stories, GK. Stories stick. Tomes don't. Take "The Brothers K." A potent book with several lessons worth our knowing, but later in our years they are buried in forgotten Russian names. Memories much more sticky and worthy are the stories told vocally, like my Aunt Beirtha told us kids and now you tell us.
Those told stories, poems and songs last far longer than those written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. There were verses and songs from Betha., some sad and some funny. She's gone now and I'm closer to it, so I find myself grateful you stil stand and deliver. She sat us and gathered us and told us. Good stories are what grab us and what stick, and two-part harmony has a lesson too.
Mark Twain was a great story-teller both on the page and with an audience. We don't know if he could sing, but I think not. He could write and he could tell stories. So can you. How lucky is that! Plus, "Boom Town" has no Russian names.
(PS: Can you really type on that old Underwood?)
I have a technical question for you. I edit my husband's weekly news column on Law and Order (his PhD from U of MN) and wondered why we're supposed to capitalize Blacks but not whites per AP style? I have been opting to give equal time to White but noticed today you don't capitalize it either. Why? Or are you a slave to AP?! (meant in jest).
I kept thinking I'd see Mike Lindell woven in there. Better left out though IMHO.