I'm not quite a score younger than you but as a result, I am benefiting from your relatively recent transformation, just at an earlier age. I thank you for that, sir. I'm hopeful that your hoary head of Proverbs reaches other readers who will consider the wisdom that comes with a long life, checkered by mistakes, and who may elect to choose cheerfulness, or grace, or kindness, in their paths forward.
Your candor in writing about the foolishness of years past and present reminds me to reflect on my own past and keeps me wary that I am not exempted from future mistakes. You very frankly, and wisely, encourage me to make simpler things a regular part of my life and I endeavor to do so. Making chit-chat while waiting online; expressing gratitude to a telephone representative just trying to do their job; acting with kindness to strangers I’ll never see again — these are all things that cost me nothing.
Your recent response to Calista is a fine example of what incorporating these simple things can produce.
If ever you doubt that self-conscious boy you were (and maybe still are inside?) has purpose in this life, remember too, the words of Isaiah that remind you who it was that carried Garrison Keillor to those hoary hairs.
With gratitude for the head start you’ve given me and others,
It appears sister Evelyn's lack of understanding goes beyond Garrison Keillor's politics. Either this sister lacks understanding of basic biblical principles that many Christian brothers and sisters who read the Bible do understand, or sister Evelyn has been deceived into abandoning those principles in favor of a god of her own making. If the latter, she is not alone.
Garrison, I would like to say thank you for your succinct, but spot-on response to the woman who believes Trump to be anything closely approximating in any way whatsoever someone who is actually a Christian, or who represents the original meaning of those beliefs. I am still shaking my head in frustration at how twisted the meaning of "Christian" has become.
Is there really all that much difference between lakes Michigan and Erie, other than location? Now and then commenters love to mention what we see as errors on your part, and I am wondering if you can take those as merely egotistical pinpricks -- a failing to which I occasionally succumb, regrettably -- and nothing more nasty than that? I hope so. Maybe there is a thrill in correcting a famous person. I wonder. We are such complex animals.
Dear Garrison, My children and I would listen to PHC on the way home from church most Sundays, and I miss you terribly. I'm 95 now and come from a PB background at the time when women (me) had to remain silent in the assembly and if they had questions to ask their husbands. I had trouble with this, but left to become an Episcopalian which I still am. You published some poems of mine in the past and I'd love you to do it again. So, if you'd like one, could you let me know? Luci Shaw
"I was pretty miserable back in my 40s." Well I did not know that, and am very sad to hear it. Not everyone makes it through. May you receive an extra extra decade to make up for the time lost.
A recent Post to the Host was from a woman who said her husband refused to get hearing aids. For fifteen years I worked for a mail order hearing aid company (before they hired me, I hadn’t heard of the concept either!) I frequently encountered this phenomenon and there are several common reasons for it.
First of all, most hearing aids are ridiculously and unnecessarily expensive. The dirty little secret of the hearing aid business is that hearing loss in most people follows a similar, predictable pattern that can be cheaply addressed. I’d say 80+ percent of our customers were wonderfully serviced by a couple of high-quality models that went for about 300 bucks each. ($600 for a pair.)
Also, many aids are poorly fit, causing constant and aggravating whistling which, in turn, causes a large number of these expensive items to be abandoned in sock drawers. The gentleman in question has possibly heard friends relate horror stories about sinking thousands of dollars into such “useless” items.
And this woman is on to something important: for many it is a vanity issue – some folks simply don’t want to admit to the world or themselves that they’re getting older.
Your advice to her was brilliant: “Say ‘I’ve made an appointment for you at an audiologist’s next Tuesday and she has some hearing aids she thinks would be perfect for you.’ Say it quietly. If he says, ‘Huh?’ Repeat it more quietly. Then write it down on a slip of paper.”
In all my years working for that company, I wish I’d thought of that! Bravo, sir! And keep up the good work. It sounds like you’re just hitting your stride.
And Evelyn, not welcoming the stranger, taking children away from their parents, and encouraging violence.
In re DJT: If you’ll excuse expression, Amen.
The childish part of my brain keeps thinking, "Lock him up," while giggling hysterically. But of course I'm much too mature to do it aloud. 😂
Dear GK,
I'm not quite a score younger than you but as a result, I am benefiting from your relatively recent transformation, just at an earlier age. I thank you for that, sir. I'm hopeful that your hoary head of Proverbs reaches other readers who will consider the wisdom that comes with a long life, checkered by mistakes, and who may elect to choose cheerfulness, or grace, or kindness, in their paths forward.
Your candor in writing about the foolishness of years past and present reminds me to reflect on my own past and keeps me wary that I am not exempted from future mistakes. You very frankly, and wisely, encourage me to make simpler things a regular part of my life and I endeavor to do so. Making chit-chat while waiting online; expressing gratitude to a telephone representative just trying to do their job; acting with kindness to strangers I’ll never see again — these are all things that cost me nothing.
Your recent response to Calista is a fine example of what incorporating these simple things can produce.
If ever you doubt that self-conscious boy you were (and maybe still are inside?) has purpose in this life, remember too, the words of Isaiah that remind you who it was that carried Garrison Keillor to those hoary hairs.
With gratitude for the head start you’ve given me and others,
Willie K
It appears sister Evelyn's lack of understanding goes beyond Garrison Keillor's politics. Either this sister lacks understanding of basic biblical principles that many Christian brothers and sisters who read the Bible do understand, or sister Evelyn has been deceived into abandoning those principles in favor of a god of her own making. If the latter, she is not alone.
Garrison, I would like to say thank you for your succinct, but spot-on response to the woman who believes Trump to be anything closely approximating in any way whatsoever someone who is actually a Christian, or who represents the original meaning of those beliefs. I am still shaking my head in frustration at how twisted the meaning of "Christian" has become.
Is there really all that much difference between lakes Michigan and Erie, other than location? Now and then commenters love to mention what we see as errors on your part, and I am wondering if you can take those as merely egotistical pinpricks -- a failing to which I occasionally succumb, regrettably -- and nothing more nasty than that? I hope so. Maybe there is a thrill in correcting a famous person. I wonder. We are such complex animals.
My money is on the probability of "Evelyn" being a BOT. With Trump as "her" god, why would she ever read or listen to whatever GK says!
Dear Garrison, My children and I would listen to PHC on the way home from church most Sundays, and I miss you terribly. I'm 95 now and come from a PB background at the time when women (me) had to remain silent in the assembly and if they had questions to ask their husbands. I had trouble with this, but left to become an Episcopalian which I still am. You published some poems of mine in the past and I'd love you to do it again. So, if you'd like one, could you let me know? Luci Shaw
"I was pretty miserable back in my 40s." Well I did not know that, and am very sad to hear it. Not everyone makes it through. May you receive an extra extra decade to make up for the time lost.
Dear GK,
There was an old man down in Tampa
Whose favorite word seemed to be HUH
His wife knew full well
The Audiologist did tell
This man's ears needed words to be louduh
Tis so sad: all he missed
Plus making many folks pissed
As his world became smaller
And folks said "no more holler"
This smart man saw the light
I'm giving up on the fight
Let me hear words wider and broader
He presents a typical behavior. In my experience, once a person recognizes how badly his listening behavior is affecting others change can happen.
Anne Seltz
Retired Audiologist
Minneapolis MN
GK:
A recent Post to the Host was from a woman who said her husband refused to get hearing aids. For fifteen years I worked for a mail order hearing aid company (before they hired me, I hadn’t heard of the concept either!) I frequently encountered this phenomenon and there are several common reasons for it.
First of all, most hearing aids are ridiculously and unnecessarily expensive. The dirty little secret of the hearing aid business is that hearing loss in most people follows a similar, predictable pattern that can be cheaply addressed. I’d say 80+ percent of our customers were wonderfully serviced by a couple of high-quality models that went for about 300 bucks each. ($600 for a pair.)
Also, many aids are poorly fit, causing constant and aggravating whistling which, in turn, causes a large number of these expensive items to be abandoned in sock drawers. The gentleman in question has possibly heard friends relate horror stories about sinking thousands of dollars into such “useless” items.
And this woman is on to something important: for many it is a vanity issue – some folks simply don’t want to admit to the world or themselves that they’re getting older.
Your advice to her was brilliant: “Say ‘I’ve made an appointment for you at an audiologist’s next Tuesday and she has some hearing aids she thinks would be perfect for you.’ Say it quietly. If he says, ‘Huh?’ Repeat it more quietly. Then write it down on a slip of paper.”
In all my years working for that company, I wish I’d thought of that! Bravo, sir! And keep up the good work. It sounds like you’re just hitting your stride.
Jeff Eldridge
Dekalb, IL