Regarding Bill Bryson, don’t read him, listen to him. He’s one of the funniest writers I’ve read, but his wit becomes even sharper when he’s reading it. My wife and I listened to Sunburnt Country prior to visiting Australia recently and it was the perfect setup. We both read it 20 years ago and loved it even more the second time around. You’re right to be in awe of him, he’s really good.
Mr Keillor. I love your stuff. Love the memory of “Lives of the Cowboys” and wonder where Dusty and his partner are now. Love your kind and sympathetic responses to letters from us fans who once found something, was it long ago, the calendar says so, but I don’t know. Doesn’t seem so. Back when stream of consciousness was more of a torrent rather than today’s trickle. Thank you for including the poem. Very moving. What might have been. The alternative seems to also have led to older kindred spirits looking around at the Drs office. The muzak in the elevator was an instrumental I’m in Love but Im lazy. I lingered, listening, while younger people rushed out. Missed my floor. We’re all in this together, wherever this is. Still listening. Please keep musing, Mr Keillor.
Garrison, I was reading the Post to the Host this morning and it brought back a memory of hearing you interviewed on the Voice of St. Louis, KMOX Radio. It was likely sometime in the early 1990s. You were asked by the host about your thoughts on paying taxes. Your reply was such that if I were your mother I'd have been proud of you. You said "I feel it is a privilege to pay taxes". You went on to say why you felt that way, describing walking in a park, driving on a paved road, schools, universities and so on...and that it was a privilege to contribute to such things for the betterment of us all.
I've been thinking about taxes a lot lately. As I approach the age where I could choose to take social security early, the taxes that come out of my income twice a month seem more and more important. I recently saw Mitch McConnell and Lindsay Graham commenting on the "entitlement program", Social Security. I also view Social Security as an "entitlement", but not in the same way and Mitch and Lindsay do, I'm sure. The word "entitlement" doesn't make me grimace in the way they do when they say it. I see it this way; I'm "entitled" to it because I paid into it! Paid into it ever since I was 14 years old, and manning the salad station at Cusanelli's restaurant in 1976.
In the last 5 or 6 years of my life I've been privileged to have earned more than the maximum taxable amount ($160,000) for 2023. After that the tax stoped coming out of my paycheck. Before I arrived in that income tax bracket, I don't think I ever knew about the maximum. Although I appreciate the extra $600 I see in my paycheck every two weeks, I don't know that it's such a good idea to have that maximum. If SS really is in trouble, why not keep taking that money regardless of income? I don't think Warren Buffet or Bill Gates would mind, but Elon probably would. And while we are taxing income for SS benefits, why not tax capital gain income as well. Why should that type of income be exempt? There are lots of trust fund babies living out there who pay no SS taxes at all, that doesn't seem fair.
I'd be happy to keep paying my SSI tax on my income, regardless of how high it gets, if it keeps grandma off the street. I view it as my "privilege".
When you get around to reading the most talented living writers--the two Richards, Powers and Ford, are my candidates for the top slots--I respectfully recommend "Bewilderment" and "Be Mine," respectively. With Fathers Day still in mind (I hope yours was good), both are profound and funny reflections on the paternal dynamic and the tragic incongruity of losing a child (an adult child in Ford's book) to despond and terminal disease. Depressing scenarios, but I find both novels uplifting and even transcendent. Also, in Ford's "Be Mine," there's lots of Minnesota (and specifically Mayo Clinic) local color that I'll bet you'll appreciate.
You made this 87-year-old recovering editor smile when you made reference to that overworked word "journey" today. It's among my growing list of pet peeves. I also don't understand why I keep seeing "planning on" when "plan to" is so much more efficient and active. Thanks for your writing and good humor. I especially enjoyed your memoir. I subscribe to cheerfulness and try to practice what you preach. Though I have seven (almost eight) years on you, I've been blessed with good health. My trips to the ER have been self-inflicted, starting by tripping and breaking a hip last summer and tripping and breaking my face a few weeks ago. Keep up the good work and don't fall.
Hi, Dolores! Ah! Devilled Eggs! YES! I used to volunteer as a cataloger for a Russian Orthodox Monastery and Seminary. As volunteers, the women teachers and I were shut off in the dining area behind a screen, in order to not invite stray thoughts on the part of the monks and seminarians. The Monastic Rule forbade red meat, so we were - "ovo-pescans(?) - digesters of eggs and fish for our protein requirements. That meant that, quite frequently, we had "Devilled Eggs!" That's not the way they were listed on the daily menu - but the Americans among us knew what they were! Here we were, thinking Godly thoughts, and eating of the Devil! Talk about "Contradictory Food for Thought!"
Garrison, I’m curious… What compelled you to make the switch from the Lutheran church to the Episcopal church? Or are you, like many, Episcolutheran? Love to hear the story if there is one - thank you!!
Regarding Bill Bryson, don’t read him, listen to him. He’s one of the funniest writers I’ve read, but his wit becomes even sharper when he’s reading it. My wife and I listened to Sunburnt Country prior to visiting Australia recently and it was the perfect setup. We both read it 20 years ago and loved it even more the second time around. You’re right to be in awe of him, he’s really good.
I love your reply to Stephanie, especially "Love directs us to accept each other, a daily form of forgiveness."
Mr Keillor. I love your stuff. Love the memory of “Lives of the Cowboys” and wonder where Dusty and his partner are now. Love your kind and sympathetic responses to letters from us fans who once found something, was it long ago, the calendar says so, but I don’t know. Doesn’t seem so. Back when stream of consciousness was more of a torrent rather than today’s trickle. Thank you for including the poem. Very moving. What might have been. The alternative seems to also have led to older kindred spirits looking around at the Drs office. The muzak in the elevator was an instrumental I’m in Love but Im lazy. I lingered, listening, while younger people rushed out. Missed my floor. We’re all in this together, wherever this is. Still listening. Please keep musing, Mr Keillor.
Fun post thanks Garrison!
Garrison, I was reading the Post to the Host this morning and it brought back a memory of hearing you interviewed on the Voice of St. Louis, KMOX Radio. It was likely sometime in the early 1990s. You were asked by the host about your thoughts on paying taxes. Your reply was such that if I were your mother I'd have been proud of you. You said "I feel it is a privilege to pay taxes". You went on to say why you felt that way, describing walking in a park, driving on a paved road, schools, universities and so on...and that it was a privilege to contribute to such things for the betterment of us all.
I've been thinking about taxes a lot lately. As I approach the age where I could choose to take social security early, the taxes that come out of my income twice a month seem more and more important. I recently saw Mitch McConnell and Lindsay Graham commenting on the "entitlement program", Social Security. I also view Social Security as an "entitlement", but not in the same way and Mitch and Lindsay do, I'm sure. The word "entitlement" doesn't make me grimace in the way they do when they say it. I see it this way; I'm "entitled" to it because I paid into it! Paid into it ever since I was 14 years old, and manning the salad station at Cusanelli's restaurant in 1976.
In the last 5 or 6 years of my life I've been privileged to have earned more than the maximum taxable amount ($160,000) for 2023. After that the tax stoped coming out of my paycheck. Before I arrived in that income tax bracket, I don't think I ever knew about the maximum. Although I appreciate the extra $600 I see in my paycheck every two weeks, I don't know that it's such a good idea to have that maximum. If SS really is in trouble, why not keep taking that money regardless of income? I don't think Warren Buffet or Bill Gates would mind, but Elon probably would. And while we are taxing income for SS benefits, why not tax capital gain income as well. Why should that type of income be exempt? There are lots of trust fund babies living out there who pay no SS taxes at all, that doesn't seem fair.
I'd be happy to keep paying my SSI tax on my income, regardless of how high it gets, if it keeps grandma off the street. I view it as my "privilege".
When you get around to reading the most talented living writers--the two Richards, Powers and Ford, are my candidates for the top slots--I respectfully recommend "Bewilderment" and "Be Mine," respectively. With Fathers Day still in mind (I hope yours was good), both are profound and funny reflections on the paternal dynamic and the tragic incongruity of losing a child (an adult child in Ford's book) to despond and terminal disease. Depressing scenarios, but I find both novels uplifting and even transcendent. Also, in Ford's "Be Mine," there's lots of Minnesota (and specifically Mayo Clinic) local color that I'll bet you'll appreciate.
GK - lovely posts and your responses were also lovely.
Thanks for this.
We need your decency in the world.
You made this 87-year-old recovering editor smile when you made reference to that overworked word "journey" today. It's among my growing list of pet peeves. I also don't understand why I keep seeing "planning on" when "plan to" is so much more efficient and active. Thanks for your writing and good humor. I especially enjoyed your memoir. I subscribe to cheerfulness and try to practice what you preach. Though I have seven (almost eight) years on you, I've been blessed with good health. My trips to the ER have been self-inflicted, starting by tripping and breaking a hip last summer and tripping and breaking my face a few weeks ago. Keep up the good work and don't fall.
Another fan, Nancy Erickson
Hi, Dolores! Ah! Devilled Eggs! YES! I used to volunteer as a cataloger for a Russian Orthodox Monastery and Seminary. As volunteers, the women teachers and I were shut off in the dining area behind a screen, in order to not invite stray thoughts on the part of the monks and seminarians. The Monastic Rule forbade red meat, so we were - "ovo-pescans(?) - digesters of eggs and fish for our protein requirements. That meant that, quite frequently, we had "Devilled Eggs!" That's not the way they were listed on the daily menu - but the Americans among us knew what they were! Here we were, thinking Godly thoughts, and eating of the Devil! Talk about "Contradictory Food for Thought!"
Garrison, I’m curious… What compelled you to make the switch from the Lutheran church to the Episcopal church? Or are you, like many, Episcolutheran? Love to hear the story if there is one - thank you!!