You really gave it your very best this week in responding so gently, patiently and honestly to so many readers and fans (and a few cranky people, too). It’s a great pleasure to read and witness, and you are inspiring!
I, like others here, have enjoyed your performances and writings for years. Many of the comments on Post to the Host are wonderful. However, I was taken aback by the rudeness of a couple of writers. You handled one with your characteristic humor; the other, with your intellect. Well done - I’d have just pressed “delete”.
I do think the critique of "Cheerfulness" was rather blunt and dull. If you're going to trash something, you really ought to make it sharp and wickedly funny. Everybody loves a good poison-pen. review.
I don't understand the "debate" about faith vs. works, how denominations with a straight face can twist a simple scriptural statement, "faith without works is dead (James 2:26)". Can you splain dat to me?
The woman that insulted you truly sounds like she is not a good hearted person, but rather narcissistic, unthoughtful and/or ugly inside. Beauty is as beauty does
Please don’t consider a facelift! In the world I lived in for years when I was a farmer in California, having a rugose face was a “Badge of Merit” for my fellow workers in the field. That held for the truckers that I met while delivering my produce to the Los Angeles Farmers’ Market, as well. To tell the truth, I haven’t aware of the superficial aspects at all. I’ve always been captivated by your eyes! If “the eyes are the mirror of the soul” – your soul must be Truly Heavenly! If you ask me, folks who find those “hills and valleys” extraordinary probably are among those who exist in indoor cubicles most of the time. Let them hike the Appalachian Trail sometime, and then ask them to comment on their own appearances.
Rugose is chiefly a geologist's term, I think. Limestone, for example, can dissolve differentially, so that sometimes it looks like exaggerated tan corduroy.
Re: birthdays at the end of July. This is a very productive time for the birthing of future writers in general, from what I’ve read. It reflects a December conception – a time when families thoughts – in the Northern hemisphere at least, turn away from the Great Outdoors and into the home. Beyond that, it’s close to “Mid-summer” - the time when the hormones are figuring out that the days aren’t going to be getting any longer. I guess these bodies are saying “Give It All You’ve Got!”
You were born in a magic time, and you’re making maximum magic out of it! Give my regards to Dusty and Lefty – I bet some of their compadres might have thought they needed face lifts, too! But they’re A #1, just as You Are!
Hi GK, I always loved Lives of the Cowboys. My fave was the Iditapig story. If anyone doesn't love it, I feel sorry for them and their lack of humor. Keep on writing, PLEASE
Regarding the comment from Alice Knowles: GK, I am a mere 77, so perhaps I will yet rise to the level of your tolerance for fools. Alice, dear, you are hopefully just senile but I suspect you are sociopathic, vulgar and to use a word you may be able to spell.....stupid. How dare you? Why do you follow Mr. Keillor & attend his shows? You may or may not need a facelift yourself, but I suggest you spend the money on a psychiatrist.
Garrison: Regarding a facelift. I've seen you in person, saw the movie, and have seen pictures of you over the years. I never thought about how you looked. You look like Garrison.
I guess that's a compliment. Not sure. Anyway I'm not interested in cosmetic surgery. I looked at a lot of old pictures while cleaning out the Minneapolis apartment and in none of them was I smiling and most of my family wasn't either. We certainly didn;t grin. I married a woman whose smile lights up the room. I hope she can tolerate living with the Solemn Old Judge.
Wow, this week's Post to the Host is a doozy. So many interesting letters!
I was amazed by Alice Knowles's rudeness. Ogre indeed. Hurumph. I like your face and think it has a lot of character. The raised eyebrows and the slight upturning of one side of your lips in that photograph seems to indicate a mischievous and/or amusing thought passing through your mind.
I read "Cheerfulness" and enjoyed it - you wrote that stoicness can lead to cheerfulness on my copy, which I very much appreciated. I think you're right, being cheerful can pass it along to others, and lord knows we need more cheeriness in the world. Mr. Castro is all wet, in my humble opinion.
I share Pat McC's childhood love of reading - I've been reading since I was five years old and my hometown librarian was always happily introducing me to new authors. However, I like the internet as well - there is a lot of dross, but some good solid information is hiding there as well.
Which brings me to my last point: I love Google! I had fun looking up the origins of the words shilly shally and dilly dally... you're absolutely correct, by the way, but you knew that. 😊 You can read about shilly shally here (https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/shilly-shally.html) and dilly dally here (https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/dilly-dally.html). The article about "dilly dally" includes the lyrics of an old song about the dangers of dilly dallying on the way home.
All the interesting words I encountered in my search encouraged me to attempt another limerick:
I'd risk being a Silly Billy
To plunge along all willy nilly.
What to decide? I shilly shally.
Oh I give up, let's dilly dally!
Thank you for all you do to make the world a happier place!
After reading the lovely prayer in your latest post to the host, I was reminded of Elizabeth B. Browning's poem: "Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees takes off his shoes." And, BYTW, you are not Homely !
I am astounded at the rudeness of the comment by Alice Knowles. Did she, perhaps, enclose or attach a picture of herself as proof of her astounding beauty, which entitles her to make personal and denigrating comments about your lack thereof?
Just want to say I was stunned at the audacity of Alice from Lexington, who felt she needed to tell you, and all of your readers, that you are "homely." I have seen you a number of times on stage. You have a face that has character and which is instantly recognizable. It reflects a pensive soul who also has a wonderfully wry sense of humor that surfaces when you least expect it.
Alice, keep your opinions and insults to yourself.
Mr. Keillor:
I’ve just wanted to say that it’s a shame public radio cancelled you a few years ago. We, mature people, don’t give a hoot. Keep ‘em coming.
-Theo
I don't listen to public radio anymore. It. simply doesn't exist.
😮😂👍🏼
Dear GK,
You really gave it your very best this week in responding so gently, patiently and honestly to so many readers and fans (and a few cranky people, too). It’s a great pleasure to read and witness, and you are inspiring!
Kate
I, like others here, have enjoyed your performances and writings for years. Many of the comments on Post to the Host are wonderful. However, I was taken aback by the rudeness of a couple of writers. You handled one with your characteristic humor; the other, with your intellect. Well done - I’d have just pressed “delete”.
I do think the critique of "Cheerfulness" was rather blunt and dull. If you're going to trash something, you really ought to make it sharp and wickedly funny. Everybody loves a good poison-pen. review.
I don't understand the "debate" about faith vs. works, how denominations with a straight face can twist a simple scriptural statement, "faith without works is dead (James 2:26)". Can you splain dat to me?
The. proclamation of faith is mere sanctimony if your faith doesn't motivate you to care for the poor and oppressed, the weak and heavy laden.
Re "sophomoric" - I see what you did there. A beaut.
Mr Keillor, the gentle irony of the "sophomoric" dialogue alone is worth the price of admission.
Didn't know we were selling tickets.
The woman that insulted you truly sounds like she is not a good hearted person, but rather narcissistic, unthoughtful and/or ugly inside. Beauty is as beauty does
Please don’t consider a facelift! In the world I lived in for years when I was a farmer in California, having a rugose face was a “Badge of Merit” for my fellow workers in the field. That held for the truckers that I met while delivering my produce to the Los Angeles Farmers’ Market, as well. To tell the truth, I haven’t aware of the superficial aspects at all. I’ve always been captivated by your eyes! If “the eyes are the mirror of the soul” – your soul must be Truly Heavenly! If you ask me, folks who find those “hills and valleys” extraordinary probably are among those who exist in indoor cubicles most of the time. Let them hike the Appalachian Trail sometime, and then ask them to comment on their own appearances.
"Rugose" ––– meaning wrinkled. Never saw that word before.
Rugose is chiefly a geologist's term, I think. Limestone, for example, can dissolve differentially, so that sometimes it looks like exaggerated tan corduroy.
Re: birthdays at the end of July. This is a very productive time for the birthing of future writers in general, from what I’ve read. It reflects a December conception – a time when families thoughts – in the Northern hemisphere at least, turn away from the Great Outdoors and into the home. Beyond that, it’s close to “Mid-summer” - the time when the hormones are figuring out that the days aren’t going to be getting any longer. I guess these bodies are saying “Give It All You’ve Got!”
You were born in a magic time, and you’re making maximum magic out of it! Give my regards to Dusty and Lefty – I bet some of their compadres might have thought they needed face lifts, too! But they’re A #1, just as You Are!
Hi GK, I always loved Lives of the Cowboys. My fave was the Iditapig story. If anyone doesn't love it, I feel sorry for them and their lack of humor. Keep on writing, PLEASE
Regarding the comment from Alice Knowles: GK, I am a mere 77, so perhaps I will yet rise to the level of your tolerance for fools. Alice, dear, you are hopefully just senile but I suspect you are sociopathic, vulgar and to use a word you may be able to spell.....stupid. How dare you? Why do you follow Mr. Keillor & attend his shows? You may or may not need a facelift yourself, but I suggest you spend the money on a psychiatrist.
Garrison: Regarding a facelift. I've seen you in person, saw the movie, and have seen pictures of you over the years. I never thought about how you looked. You look like Garrison.
John
I guess that's a compliment. Not sure. Anyway I'm not interested in cosmetic surgery. I looked at a lot of old pictures while cleaning out the Minneapolis apartment and in none of them was I smiling and most of my family wasn't either. We certainly didn;t grin. I married a woman whose smile lights up the room. I hope she can tolerate living with the Solemn Old Judge.
You're both luck people. That's a compliment.
lucky
Wow, this week's Post to the Host is a doozy. So many interesting letters!
I was amazed by Alice Knowles's rudeness. Ogre indeed. Hurumph. I like your face and think it has a lot of character. The raised eyebrows and the slight upturning of one side of your lips in that photograph seems to indicate a mischievous and/or amusing thought passing through your mind.
I read "Cheerfulness" and enjoyed it - you wrote that stoicness can lead to cheerfulness on my copy, which I very much appreciated. I think you're right, being cheerful can pass it along to others, and lord knows we need more cheeriness in the world. Mr. Castro is all wet, in my humble opinion.
I share Pat McC's childhood love of reading - I've been reading since I was five years old and my hometown librarian was always happily introducing me to new authors. However, I like the internet as well - there is a lot of dross, but some good solid information is hiding there as well.
Which brings me to my last point: I love Google! I had fun looking up the origins of the words shilly shally and dilly dally... you're absolutely correct, by the way, but you knew that. 😊 You can read about shilly shally here (https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/shilly-shally.html) and dilly dally here (https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/dilly-dally.html). The article about "dilly dally" includes the lyrics of an old song about the dangers of dilly dallying on the way home.
All the interesting words I encountered in my search encouraged me to attempt another limerick:
I'd risk being a Silly Billy
To plunge along all willy nilly.
What to decide? I shilly shally.
Oh I give up, let's dilly dally!
Thank you for all you do to make the world a happier place!
After reading the lovely prayer in your latest post to the host, I was reminded of Elizabeth B. Browning's poem: "Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees takes off his shoes." And, BYTW, you are not Homely !
I am astounded at the rudeness of the comment by Alice Knowles. Did she, perhaps, enclose or attach a picture of herself as proof of her astounding beauty, which entitles her to make personal and denigrating comments about your lack thereof?
Beauty is as beauty does. She might look like a movie star, but that ugly attitude would ruin it... true beauty requires sweetness.
Hi Garrison,
Just want to say I was stunned at the audacity of Alice from Lexington, who felt she needed to tell you, and all of your readers, that you are "homely." I have seen you a number of times on stage. You have a face that has character and which is instantly recognizable. It reflects a pensive soul who also has a wonderfully wry sense of humor that surfaces when you least expect it.
Alice, keep your opinions and insults to yourself.
Laurie from Concord, MA