I love rhubarb and each summer I bake several “pretty good” rhubarb pies for my family which they seem to enjoy. When I heard my first PHC show decades ago, the prominent role of rhubarb in the show hooked me immediately and I looked forward to listening on Saturday nights for yet another story with rhubarb in a central role. My favorite rhubarb story was one that ended with the line “No, they don’t grow rhubarb in Florida.” At one time I had a cassette recording of PHC “News from Lake Wobegon” segments that included this story. I listened to it so many times that I could retell the story from memory.
At some point I lost the cassette and as I’ve grown older (I’m 77 now) I’ve lost bits and pieces of the story from my memory. I wonder if you might help me reconnect with the story of a pastor who thought he wanted to move from Lake Wobegon to Florida.
Whatever you do, don't get Mr. Robert Moats started on the apostrophe. And while you're at it - don't talk to me about "reticient" or "penultimate", two lovely words that are, alas, almost lost to us.
Here's the nub of it all, thanks to the succinct responses of Mr. Keillor who writes:
"Race is a sensitive subject, and history never goes away, it leaves scars, but I do believe that the great challenge is to jump the gap that exists between individuals and to achieve friendship, regardless of race or ethnicity or class. To have intimate understanding between two persons is what it’s all about and it’s miraculous when it happens."
Right there you can find what it takes to undo the hate and dismissal we have for each other, largely due to the ill-called Social Media. "Social" it is not. "Anti-Social" is what it is and it stands a fence between us all. Tear it down! Talk respectfully to each other. It will lead to ways where more good can be done.
Mark Twain said, "Before you tear down a fence, ask why it was put up in the first place." That may have been once good advice. But it's not needed now. Open range and open mind create freedom., ultimately for all.
For years now, I’ve been skipping past all the party politics emails I receive. It seems that their common style is to show mad rage and express a desire to “fight for” something. Don’t they ever stop to think how that message persuades crazy people to do all sorts of crazy things? But Mr. Keillor, I never skip past your emails. "Talk respectfully to each other," is the most intelligent advice I've seen in a long, long time. I’m going to vote for politicians who convince me that they can live by those words. Yeah, I know; respect is out of style, and it might be a long wait before I find much to vote for. But I don’t think I’m the only one waiting.
Well-said, sir. I don’t think there are very many to whom you don’t speak. And I’ve yet to see a fulminating post about you on Facebook. That alone augurs well.
Thanks, Jeannine.Those were wise words. I think it was Abe Lincoln who said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
We still all live in Lake Wobegon USA "where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average." Even though most women are merely strong willed, most men are confused about their masculinity, and most children struggle just to be average; most of us readily embrace the myth. Your de Tocqueville insights into our culture, and your skill at encouraging us to laugh at ourselves is a legacy of which to be proud.
I'm sorry your experience with millennials has been so negative. I think it might be skewed a little by your zip code--not every person born between 1982 and 1997 lives (or even wants to live) in Brooklyn--but that's just me. Personally, I find your gentle grumpiness and sharp wit comforting, probably because of my Dutch Reformed background. I'm glad you enjoy our harmonies.
It's odd, being part of the generation I'm in. When I was in high school and college, everything of ours was cloaked in irony. Now, morality is King. Why is the world becoming so literal?
I don't know your work that well. To be honest, when I first hit subscribe, I had you mixed up with Norman Mailer, who of course is long gone. But I've stuck around because you seem capable of cutting through the bullshit, and I like that.
I guess, if I have a question, it's to ask if you've had any genuinely pleasant experiences with people my age that you'd care to share. Also: any advice for aspiring writers like me from this generation?
My children are all millennials and they turned out okay. The desire to skip the bull manure is a sign of a good mind. I'm too old to be using the more expressive words, except under dire circumstances, like the time I accidentally cut my finger with a box cutter - I let loose with a whole string of "shits" then, hopping up and down with each one...
Comparisons are often made of infancy versus old age. As I push into my seventies, falling seems to be a topic I’d add to the list. As babies learning how to walk we all fell down a lot. Then as we bashed through life we caught ourselves all the time, often seen looking back foolishly at what might have dared try to trip us. But now, a fall is an enormous event. First making a mental assessment to see if there is unusually bad pain anywhere, followed by the long and complicated process of getting back up.
Life goes on. We walk more carefully. Watching our step. Life is slower and much more peaceful than when I was an infant and so it was well worth the trip. So to speak
Loved the "Powdermilk Biscuits" song: the singing and the instrumental solos. Eg. Seeing Peter Ostroushko playing fiddle; the great singing of you 3. Really nice!
I share a birthday with you, August 7, though I have been born five years after you. When I was younger, 75 seemed to be enormously ancient and did not want to live much past that age. Now I’m not so sure. However, there is something troubling me at this point in my life. I worry that I’m losing my sense of humor and I would really hate it if that happens.
Although I haven’t been lucky enough to attend one of your live shows, I’ve been a faithful follower of your shows on the radio and now online and there are few things that I like in this world as much as these events. I have also bought and read a few of your books. My favorites: the early ones, Lake Wobegon Days and Leaving Home. When I read those stories, I heard in my mind your wonderfully mellifluous voice reciting them. I have just started on Boom Town. I am also on your mailing list for your weekly column/articles/comments. These are among life’s wonderful pleasures, very much enhanced by your very funny sense of humor. And that’s why I thought of asking you about this problem
I realize that due to political correctness, nowadays it is harder and harder to find subjects to make fun of. About the only ones left are heterosexual white men and old people, and even these two groups overlap. As I’m rapidly approaching the age of 75, I find that jokes about old people are less and less funny, though I must admit, I did laugh at them when I was younger. My only consolation now is that the people making fun of us will eventually get here as well and will also find out what if means to be old Unless they die young, which is not really a desirable alternative. I have noticed that you, in spite of your age, still make jokes from time to time at old peoples’ expense, and that’s why I thought of asking you: How do you feel about this? And what do you think?
I really enjoy this.
I always like the witty self-deprecating humour!
"No less than ten," eh? Nice subtle touch, sir...
great minds lurking....
GK,
I love rhubarb and each summer I bake several “pretty good” rhubarb pies for my family which they seem to enjoy. When I heard my first PHC show decades ago, the prominent role of rhubarb in the show hooked me immediately and I looked forward to listening on Saturday nights for yet another story with rhubarb in a central role. My favorite rhubarb story was one that ended with the line “No, they don’t grow rhubarb in Florida.” At one time I had a cassette recording of PHC “News from Lake Wobegon” segments that included this story. I listened to it so many times that I could retell the story from memory.
At some point I lost the cassette and as I’ve grown older (I’m 77 now) I’ve lost bits and pieces of the story from my memory. I wonder if you might help me reconnect with the story of a pastor who thought he wanted to move from Lake Wobegon to Florida.
Thanks,
Bob Nellson, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Hahahahaha... For Whom The Bell Tolls
Whatever you do, don't get Mr. Robert Moats started on the apostrophe. And while you're at it - don't talk to me about "reticient" or "penultimate", two lovely words that are, alas, almost lost to us.
Always loved his ads for "Bebopalluba Rhubarb Pie"
Here's the nub of it all, thanks to the succinct responses of Mr. Keillor who writes:
"Race is a sensitive subject, and history never goes away, it leaves scars, but I do believe that the great challenge is to jump the gap that exists between individuals and to achieve friendship, regardless of race or ethnicity or class. To have intimate understanding between two persons is what it’s all about and it’s miraculous when it happens."
Right there you can find what it takes to undo the hate and dismissal we have for each other, largely due to the ill-called Social Media. "Social" it is not. "Anti-Social" is what it is and it stands a fence between us all. Tear it down! Talk respectfully to each other. It will lead to ways where more good can be done.
Mark Twain said, "Before you tear down a fence, ask why it was put up in the first place." That may have been once good advice. But it's not needed now. Open range and open mind create freedom., ultimately for all.
For years now, I’ve been skipping past all the party politics emails I receive. It seems that their common style is to show mad rage and express a desire to “fight for” something. Don’t they ever stop to think how that message persuades crazy people to do all sorts of crazy things? But Mr. Keillor, I never skip past your emails. "Talk respectfully to each other," is the most intelligent advice I've seen in a long, long time. I’m going to vote for politicians who convince me that they can live by those words. Yeah, I know; respect is out of style, and it might be a long wait before I find much to vote for. But I don’t think I’m the only one waiting.
Let the political bosses know you don’t want their party/locked candidates. We want a candidate who can do politics.
I don't always follow my own advice. I speak respectfully to people I respect and some people I don't talk to at all. It's just how it is.
Well-said, sir. I don’t think there are very many to whom you don’t speak. And I’ve yet to see a fulminating post about you on Facebook. That alone augurs well.
I don't think there's anything wrong with that - my mother always advised me to say nothing if I couldn't think of anything anything nice to say.
Thanks, Jeannine.Those were wise words. I think it was Abe Lincoln who said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
We still all live in Lake Wobegon USA "where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average." Even though most women are merely strong willed, most men are confused about their masculinity, and most children struggle just to be average; most of us readily embrace the myth. Your de Tocqueville insights into our culture, and your skill at encouraging us to laugh at ourselves is a legacy of which to be proud.
Lovely. "Write what you know." :). You do know so much, and much of it is very funny.
GK,
I'm sorry your experience with millennials has been so negative. I think it might be skewed a little by your zip code--not every person born between 1982 and 1997 lives (or even wants to live) in Brooklyn--but that's just me. Personally, I find your gentle grumpiness and sharp wit comforting, probably because of my Dutch Reformed background. I'm glad you enjoy our harmonies.
It's odd, being part of the generation I'm in. When I was in high school and college, everything of ours was cloaked in irony. Now, morality is King. Why is the world becoming so literal?
I don't know your work that well. To be honest, when I first hit subscribe, I had you mixed up with Norman Mailer, who of course is long gone. But I've stuck around because you seem capable of cutting through the bullshit, and I like that.
I guess, if I have a question, it's to ask if you've had any genuinely pleasant experiences with people my age that you'd care to share. Also: any advice for aspiring writers like me from this generation?
Andrew Koole, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
Irony has always been rare back in the Midwest, as rare as snow-capped mountains, though sometimes we have snow-capped hills.
My children are all millennials and they turned out okay. The desire to skip the bull manure is a sign of a good mind. I'm too old to be using the more expressive words, except under dire circumstances, like the time I accidentally cut my finger with a box cutter - I let loose with a whole string of "shits" then, hopping up and down with each one...
It's good to have those words available though for an old fundamentalist like me, it would take a guillotine blade dropping to make me say it.
Hello Garrison,
Comparisons are often made of infancy versus old age. As I push into my seventies, falling seems to be a topic I’d add to the list. As babies learning how to walk we all fell down a lot. Then as we bashed through life we caught ourselves all the time, often seen looking back foolishly at what might have dared try to trip us. But now, a fall is an enormous event. First making a mental assessment to see if there is unusually bad pain anywhere, followed by the long and complicated process of getting back up.
Life goes on. We walk more carefully. Watching our step. Life is slower and much more peaceful than when I was an infant and so it was well worth the trip. So to speak
Bill Gordon
Loved the "Powdermilk Biscuits" song: the singing and the instrumental solos. Eg. Seeing Peter Ostroushko playing fiddle; the great singing of you 3. Really nice!
Dear Garrison,
I share a birthday with you, August 7, though I have been born five years after you. When I was younger, 75 seemed to be enormously ancient and did not want to live much past that age. Now I’m not so sure. However, there is something troubling me at this point in my life. I worry that I’m losing my sense of humor and I would really hate it if that happens.
Although I haven’t been lucky enough to attend one of your live shows, I’ve been a faithful follower of your shows on the radio and now online and there are few things that I like in this world as much as these events. I have also bought and read a few of your books. My favorites: the early ones, Lake Wobegon Days and Leaving Home. When I read those stories, I heard in my mind your wonderfully mellifluous voice reciting them. I have just started on Boom Town. I am also on your mailing list for your weekly column/articles/comments. These are among life’s wonderful pleasures, very much enhanced by your very funny sense of humor. And that’s why I thought of asking you about this problem
I realize that due to political correctness, nowadays it is harder and harder to find subjects to make fun of. About the only ones left are heterosexual white men and old people, and even these two groups overlap. As I’m rapidly approaching the age of 75, I find that jokes about old people are less and less funny, though I must admit, I did laugh at them when I was younger. My only consolation now is that the people making fun of us will eventually get here as well and will also find out what if means to be old Unless they die young, which is not really a desirable alternative. I have noticed that you, in spite of your age, still make jokes from time to time at old peoples’ expense, and that’s why I thought of asking you: How do you feel about this? And what do you think?
Warm regards,
Judith Binder