Thank you for your articulate and humorous insights.
The picture of the clean, cleared, desk with the desk light illuminating its surface and the compartmentalized (one might assume) sitting atop strikes an image for me of a disciplined, but not too disciplined a mind whose search for truth does not rule out the necessary ingredients of humor and absurdity. Would you care to elaborate on your writing environment?
As a person that works in Garrison’s office I will confess that we have been cleaning up our offices while he is in NYC. We took this pic as an example of what it NEVER looks like, but it is indeed a true pic of Garrison’s fabulous desk.
The picture of the desk was taken as our office was being cleared out –– normally it would be a swamp. It's a desk a cabinetmaker built for me in New York and it's followed me around and at the moment it's heading for Goodwill.
On the road again! Sounds great. Get a dog named Charley, off you go, and don't forget to check out Eden Prairie. While you're at it, visit Jonathan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan,_Minnesota. Back in the late 60's they had a master plan to turn their fair, new city into an Eden-like home-owners-association just west of Eden Prairie. Get back to me on this one if your travels take you there. The dream never happened!
To guard against lingering on too long if I get dementia, I've created a very detailed health care directive that basically says if I lose my marbles I don't want any further medical treatment of any kind except pain relief. I watched both of my parents fade into dementia while being propped up by our health care system and I don't want that type of end for myself.
This may be hard for your loved ones to watch. And what do they do if, in your marblelessness, you plead for help? Just saying. I wish you well. Keep doing your exercises.
Good point. It's never fun when the marbles go. I'm just trying to float off on the iceberg without really having to go to Alaska. Hang gliding could also be an option...
The iceberg option could endanger some Coast Guard folks who need to try to rescue you. Hang gliding could cause injury to innocent bystanders. We need to keep thinking.
I was recording one of your shows on my cassette recorder in the mid1980’s and Jean Redpath came on. Just in the middle of her rendition of songs sung when the fiddler doesn’t she my tape was full! Any chance you know of a copy of that show with Jean Jedpath?
It's not PHC, but I found a recording of Jean Redpath singing a medley of Scottish tunes, including "I lost my Love" - you're correct, she does indeed have a beautiful voice! https://youtu.be/BnI9EWQr_K0
Many years ago, during a hard time in my life, every Saturday evening I had a long drive across the state. I would always start my trip with my heart heavy with burdens, but along the way I would hear that deep bass voice of yours on the car radio "live from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul," along with Powder Milk Biscuits, Guy Noir, and the rest of it.. All the evening's songs and skits would help me pass the time, and when I stepped out at the end I was usually still laughing and humming. I am forever grateful for this, as were the people who cared about me so deeply at my destination. It was a gift to all of us for me to walk in that door a happy man. Thank you.
I'm glad you had good reception for a two-hour car drive. You must've had a very high antenna. And during the slow parts, you had some scenery to occupy you.
I read your autobiography a few months and ago and enjoyed learning the back stories of your characters from Lake Wobegon. I also liked the way you wrote about your boss at the radio station who always supported you and took any flack as the Prairie Home Companion show grew. We all need someone like that in our corner when we are starting out to help us succeed.
The part about your meeting with Ronald Reagan in his twilight years was touching.
I don't believe I ever heard much in the way of blues music played on PHC. Are you to any degree an afficionado of the blues? Granted the genre is not native to the mid-west, although maybe the southern Plains states contributed something. Do you have any comment to share on the topic? Any preferences to share? Any recommendations?
Thank you for your articulate and humorous insights.
The picture of the clean, cleared, desk with the desk light illuminating its surface and the compartmentalized (one might assume) sitting atop strikes an image for me of a disciplined, but not too disciplined a mind whose search for truth does not rule out the necessary ingredients of humor and absurdity. Would you care to elaborate on your writing environment?
As a person that works in Garrison’s office I will confess that we have been cleaning up our offices while he is in NYC. We took this pic as an example of what it NEVER looks like, but it is indeed a true pic of Garrison’s fabulous desk.
The picture of the desk was taken as our office was being cleared out –– normally it would be a swamp. It's a desk a cabinetmaker built for me in New York and it's followed me around and at the moment it's heading for Goodwill.
On the road again! Sounds great. Get a dog named Charley, off you go, and don't forget to check out Eden Prairie. While you're at it, visit Jonathan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan,_Minnesota. Back in the late 60's they had a master plan to turn their fair, new city into an Eden-like home-owners-association just west of Eden Prairie. Get back to me on this one if your travels take you there. The dream never happened!
Or did it?
To guard against lingering on too long if I get dementia, I've created a very detailed health care directive that basically says if I lose my marbles I don't want any further medical treatment of any kind except pain relief. I watched both of my parents fade into dementia while being propped up by our health care system and I don't want that type of end for myself.
This may be hard for your loved ones to watch. And what do they do if, in your marblelessness, you plead for help? Just saying. I wish you well. Keep doing your exercises.
Good point. It's never fun when the marbles go. I'm just trying to float off on the iceberg without really having to go to Alaska. Hang gliding could also be an option...
The iceberg option could endanger some Coast Guard folks who need to try to rescue you. Hang gliding could cause injury to innocent bystanders. We need to keep thinking.
I was recording one of your shows on my cassette recorder in the mid1980’s and Jean Redpath came on. Just in the middle of her rendition of songs sung when the fiddler doesn’t she my tape was full! Any chance you know of a copy of that show with Jean Jedpath?
Fiddler doesn’t show...Jean Redpath....auto incorrect corrected:-)
Google it. I'll bet it's on the web somewhere.
Googling no luck yet,” lost my love “ was part of the medoly
It's not PHC, but I found a recording of Jean Redpath singing a medley of Scottish tunes, including "I lost my Love" - you're correct, she does indeed have a beautiful voice! https://youtu.be/BnI9EWQr_K0
Starting at 4:30 a similar rendition, on PHC it was bit different and better! Thanks for finding this, she is delightful!
You're very welcome and that you for the introduction. :)
There was an old man on the veldt
Who tried to express what he felt
But they paid no attention
To things he would mention
Because of the way that he smelt.
I was about to suggest replacing “smelt” with “spelt” when I realized you did that on purpose. Brilliant! We may be old, but we still have it!
Many years ago, during a hard time in my life, every Saturday evening I had a long drive across the state. I would always start my trip with my heart heavy with burdens, but along the way I would hear that deep bass voice of yours on the car radio "live from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul," along with Powder Milk Biscuits, Guy Noir, and the rest of it.. All the evening's songs and skits would help me pass the time, and when I stepped out at the end I was usually still laughing and humming. I am forever grateful for this, as were the people who cared about me so deeply at my destination. It was a gift to all of us for me to walk in that door a happy man. Thank you.
I'm glad you had good reception for a two-hour car drive. You must've had a very high antenna. And during the slow parts, you had some scenery to occupy you.
I read your autobiography a few months and ago and enjoyed learning the back stories of your characters from Lake Wobegon. I also liked the way you wrote about your boss at the radio station who always supported you and took any flack as the Prairie Home Companion show grew. We all need someone like that in our corner when we are starting out to help us succeed.
The part about your meeting with Ronald Reagan in his twilight years was touching.
That Time of Year is a wonderful book.
Dear Mr. Keillor:
I don't believe I ever heard much in the way of blues music played on PHC. Are you to any degree an afficionado of the blues? Granted the genre is not native to the mid-west, although maybe the southern Plains states contributed something. Do you have any comment to share on the topic? Any preferences to share? Any recommendations?
Thanks, Susan Nerlinger
Thanks, Susan Nerlinger
Thank you Mr. Keillor, especially for your poem to Josie
Julia Moser