St. Paulites doesn't quite roll off the tongue (and I was born there) very nicely. St. Paulinians? St. Pauliputians? St. Pauloponnesians? Please advise.
An inducement to visiting New Ulm is this Lake Wobegon-ish history: when being formed as a town, a lawyer from St. Paul was invited to visit and advise. He was apparently quite a disagreeable character. Upon his advice that the town’s founding documents could contain any restrictions they desired, they adopted a provision that banned lawyers from living in New Ulm. The tradition was long honored, after a fashion, by no law offices being within the town limits.
I agree with Mark Larson; "Happy Wife, Happy Life" would be a great book title and there would be no dishonesty, as long as you tell everyone the truth about the three unhappy women right up front. In fact, the lessons you learned from the unhappy relationships might provide valuable insight into what makes for a happy marriage. Just my two cents...
In response to Michael N in "Post to the Host 1-14-24 ", if those dear children with parents had to leave the Ryman because the F word was spoken, I expect on their drive about town or on the school bus those same dear children read F**k Biden on the Florida Boy's fan banners.
I had tickets for your show in Manhattan but unfortunately I didn’t attend due to health issues. Knowing that I couldn’t go, I got the Live Stream for the show in Nashville. I really enjoyed it having listened to the show on the radio and seeing the movie.
I was able to see you last February in Wichita but I’m still disappointed that I didn’t get to watch your show in Manhattan. I enjoyed your monologue regardless of what others have said. I like that you have thrown off the restraints and have the freedom to tell it however you decide.
I agree with the Michael N post about using profanity during your shows. In my opinion you are way above the need to use the F-word. Although it’s true that we hear it and see it much too often why lower your standard of excellence in story telling and humor for all ages?
I'm going to offer a thought: when people say "f-word" or "n-word," the human mind is very likely, perhaps invariably, going to translate that to the words we all know. So even if they aren't said, they are still there. What is gained by the euphemism? We may be offering a certain kind of politeness or consideration for the feelings of others, but can we ever know what words might hurt the ears and feelings of others? Remember when "denigration" was being given the linguistic stink eye, or "niggardly" the same. Now that the "f-word" has become almost mainstream, those who have a need to shock others apparently, or who are indifferent to the feelings and sensibilities of others, are increasingly using words that have an even more terrible history.
I like the way the Irish use and pronounce "the f-word," quite routinely as far as I can tell, but they say "fookin" this and that.
You hammered Michael N. who wrote of his disappointment at your use of profanity. Then you dismissed a note that suggested why and how your use of the F word was a mistake. You sound like a defensive grouch and a bully, not the cheerful guy you hypocritically claim to be.
I’m a native Nashvillean, who has seen & loved your PHC at the Ryman a few times. Unlike Michael, who wrote of your most recent Ryman show, I don’t know any prudes.
I hope you don’t ever change your wonderful style or language. Many of us love you & your writing “just the way you are”. Thank you! ❤️
Becky, I love Nashville and hope to go back to the Ryman someday. The sound of the audience singing in that old tabernacle is profoundly beautiful. I sometimes think that my generation may be the last one that knows all the words to so many songs.
GK has often written about the power of radio lying, in part, in the fact that your (visual) image of what’s going on necessarily originates inside your head, and that that view is always much better than mere “reality”.
A case in point is the photo of GK on stage at the Ryman.
In short, this is the first picture I’ve seen of the view _from_ that stage. And while the Ryman is clearly not a tiny venue, the view doesn’t remotely compare to the coliseum-like proportions of the theater --and the crowd size-- that I’ve always pictured while listening to the many shows I’ve heard from the Ryman.
I appreciated the conversation about marmalade, a fitting topic if you're commenting on what to put on breakfast toast. My mother made marmalade from the so-called 'bitter oranges" from Seville. I've never found those oranges in a supermarket, so I content myself with the ordinary sweet stuff. It's good on bread and butter as well as toast.
Back in Aug 27 2015 my wife and I saw you in the Eugene/Springfield show. She made me sneak in a jar of her homemade jam and when you were doing the crowd walk through she came up to you and gave you the jam, she got a hug and I think she planted a kiss on your cheek too. After the show I bet her a buck the jam ended up in a trash can, after all, who knows what might be in that jar! So, do you remember what happened? Dorland and Diane Neale, Florence OR
I don't remember. I probably handed the jar to the stage manager. That would've been Albert Webster. Albert wasn't given to suspicion and I doubt that he threw it away. I'd guess he gave it to a stagehand.
You are a fine host, sir....in any language.Let us St. Paulites and beyond that have both joys and tears. Bless you!
St. Paulites doesn't quite roll off the tongue (and I was born there) very nicely. St. Paulinians? St. Pauliputians? St. Pauloponnesians? Please advise.
St. Pauliticians.
That's it, alright! And ever will be and such as it is.
An inducement to visiting New Ulm is this Lake Wobegon-ish history: when being formed as a town, a lawyer from St. Paul was invited to visit and advise. He was apparently quite a disagreeable character. Upon his advice that the town’s founding documents could contain any restrictions they desired, they adopted a provision that banned lawyers from living in New Ulm. The tradition was long honored, after a fashion, by no law offices being within the town limits.
re: the picture of GK on stage:
No more red sneakers?
My mistake. I found them again.
I agree with Mark Larson; "Happy Wife, Happy Life" would be a great book title and there would be no dishonesty, as long as you tell everyone the truth about the three unhappy women right up front. In fact, the lessons you learned from the unhappy relationships might provide valuable insight into what makes for a happy marriage. Just my two cents...
I believe they would rather forget me and I can't blame them.
Good morning Garrison
Thinking about your response to the letter about your appearance at the Ryman, and folks’ pretense of an unacknowledged ubiquity of That Word:
Their once was a girl with a duck,
Who rode into town on a truck.
But the biggest surprise,
I bet none of you guys,
Thought the last rhyme would be “luck”.
In response to Michael N in "Post to the Host 1-14-24 ", if those dear children with parents had to leave the Ryman because the F word was spoken, I expect on their drive about town or on the school bus those same dear children read F**k Biden on the Florida Boy's fan banners.
Garrison,
I had tickets for your show in Manhattan but unfortunately I didn’t attend due to health issues. Knowing that I couldn’t go, I got the Live Stream for the show in Nashville. I really enjoyed it having listened to the show on the radio and seeing the movie.
I was able to see you last February in Wichita but I’m still disappointed that I didn’t get to watch your show in Manhattan. I enjoyed your monologue regardless of what others have said. I like that you have thrown off the restraints and have the freedom to tell it however you decide.
Thank you from a long time fan.
Earl Shook. Hutchinson, Kansas
I hope you're feeling better. I enjoyed Manhattan and I did not recite my poem:
God created Kansas by way of suggesting
That not everything need be interesting.
God was busy fighting sin.
When he made Kansas, he phoned it in.
I agree with the Michael N post about using profanity during your shows. In my opinion you are way above the need to use the F-word. Although it’s true that we hear it and see it much too often why lower your standard of excellence in story telling and humor for all ages?
We look forward to seeing you in Galveston!
I'm going to offer a thought: when people say "f-word" or "n-word," the human mind is very likely, perhaps invariably, going to translate that to the words we all know. So even if they aren't said, they are still there. What is gained by the euphemism? We may be offering a certain kind of politeness or consideration for the feelings of others, but can we ever know what words might hurt the ears and feelings of others? Remember when "denigration" was being given the linguistic stink eye, or "niggardly" the same. Now that the "f-word" has become almost mainstream, those who have a need to shock others apparently, or who are indifferent to the feelings and sensibilities of others, are increasingly using words that have an even more terrible history.
I like the way the Irish use and pronounce "the f-word," quite routinely as far as I can tell, but they say "fookin" this and that.
You're right about euphemisms.
I do believe you are speaking of the Scots, Anne Cross, not Irish. I'll check with my Scott-ish fookin son-in-law to be certain. :)
Okay.
You hammered Michael N. who wrote of his disappointment at your use of profanity. Then you dismissed a note that suggested why and how your use of the F word was a mistake. You sound like a defensive grouch and a bully, not the cheerful guy you hypocritically claim to be.
I defended myself making a joke that the audience hugely enjoyed. I don't think that's "bullying."
Hey, Garrison!
I’m a native Nashvillean, who has seen & loved your PHC at the Ryman a few times. Unlike Michael, who wrote of your most recent Ryman show, I don’t know any prudes.
I hope you don’t ever change your wonderful style or language. Many of us love you & your writing “just the way you are”. Thank you! ❤️
Becky in Nashville
Becky, I love Nashville and hope to go back to the Ryman someday. The sound of the audience singing in that old tabernacle is profoundly beautiful. I sometimes think that my generation may be the last one that knows all the words to so many songs.
I think it was Andy Rooney who wrote that we should use profanities only when absolutely necessary, but obscenities never.
Can you provide the distinctions so we can know the difference?
Andy had it easy. He was a broadcaster, he didn't have to deal with trucks and power tools and large animals.
GK has often written about the power of radio lying, in part, in the fact that your (visual) image of what’s going on necessarily originates inside your head, and that that view is always much better than mere “reality”.
A case in point is the photo of GK on stage at the Ryman.
In short, this is the first picture I’ve seen of the view _from_ that stage. And while the Ryman is clearly not a tiny venue, the view doesn’t remotely compare to the coliseum-like proportions of the theater --and the crowd size-- that I’ve always pictured while listening to the many shows I’ve heard from the Ryman.
I appreciated the conversation about marmalade, a fitting topic if you're commenting on what to put on breakfast toast. My mother made marmalade from the so-called 'bitter oranges" from Seville. I've never found those oranges in a supermarket, so I content myself with the ordinary sweet stuff. It's good on bread and butter as well as toast.
Back in Aug 27 2015 my wife and I saw you in the Eugene/Springfield show. She made me sneak in a jar of her homemade jam and when you were doing the crowd walk through she came up to you and gave you the jam, she got a hug and I think she planted a kiss on your cheek too. After the show I bet her a buck the jam ended up in a trash can, after all, who knows what might be in that jar! So, do you remember what happened? Dorland and Diane Neale, Florence OR
I don't remember. I probably handed the jar to the stage manager. That would've been Albert Webster. Albert wasn't given to suspicion and I doubt that he threw it away. I'd guess he gave it to a stagehand.