Garrison: You asked "Which side are you on?" and you have received answers. It seems that despite a true catastrophe occurring in Ukraine, some cannot suspend their local grievance and support the international efforts to make aggression unprofitable and, more importantly, unsustainable. It's hard travellin', but better than the hard rain that could fall. With a bow to Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan.
Garrison,thank you for your answers to those who disagree with you comments. If those who disagree would write in the same manner a dialogue could possibly take place.
Hang in there,lad! All will be well, we’re told, and I largely believe it. For what I don’t know what to believe or do, that old quip often carries me through:”Run to the roundhouse, Nellie! They’ll never corner you there.” Wise folks and politicians are often found there.
I’m flummoxed by the number of bitter, ill-informed, harshly negative people who attack you in print, but I admire you for your gutsy and patient responses.
I live with the happy memory of PHC broadcast on Saturday evenings. There's no way to say thank you enough for all the music and stories.
You mentioned Ostroushko and I looked him up and found his playing a mandolin at the Concert for Ukraine. He spoke, OO-cry-EEN-uh, and that's what I hear when I recall the picture of the family killed on their way out. But more. When he plays his mandolin, I see an old man sitting on a homemade bench as he leans against a garden wall and creates the traditional sounds of that tortured country--tears of love and pain come out of his mandolin.
Sometimes I think the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse are always coming around the clubhouse turn.
Regarding the upcoming sunset for the Writer's Almanac, I'm sad, but not disappointed. At 30+ years, that's a good run. Also, I think I was there for all of it, since, back in the 1990's, my public station always played it when we woke up, about 630 every morning. A pleasant way to start a day. Now, I use the podcast to do my stretches so thanks for keeping all the old poems available. It's not like I memorized 30 years of poetry, so it will still be fresh when I listen to them again. Anyway, like that old philosopher George Harrison said once, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWV4pFV5nX4
Garrison, I needed now at last to tell you that your voice is sorely needed in this world of gathering Woe! And add a bit of history here as well.
Now, at 95, I look back to many years of our “relationship.” Coming to northern Michigan in 1975 at age 50 for a “back to the land” beginning, we soon discovered your newly begun PHC on Interllochen Public Radio, which became our major source of recreation and entertainment in the little “hut” we built on our “promised land.” You opened your show with a polka (the Clarinet?) and we danced you into our Saturday Night each week.
Now that you are entering the stage of what Utah Phillips (another of our favorites,) called a Crusty Old Farthood, I still consider you, in my widowhood of 12 years, among my most beloved friends; and someone who has gained the wisdom of an aging soul. I honor you in many ways, not the least of which is your appreciation of and devotion to your beloved partner. You are indeed a lucky man, and I wish you many more years of basking in her lovely spirit while still bringing to the world your own inimitable wisdom and humor. Keep on Keeping on!
It's Pi Day, and I just turned 39. I'm on the right side of 40 but the wrong side of 200 pounds. As many have pointed out to you, I grew up listening to your show. My Saturdays were spent traveling across the James River to Williamsburg, VA as a way of getting out of the house -we lived in Surry, which didn't have much to offer.
So much of my memory of your voice and stories are while staring out the window in the back seat, or teetering on a ferry, which lends itself to zoning out, and an overall pondering state, a state I've been stuck in since 1993! My mother passed away in August of 2020, and I found myself listening to your backlog of shows on your site, getting lost in them as I did as a kid and teen. I've come to realize that so much of my way of thinking and voice has come from the way you carve a meaningful story of everyday occurrences from a stone that most would only see as a dull piece of rock. Thanks for that.
When my mom divorced in the early 90's, there were little bumper stickers and framed signs, half hidden where only she could see them, that read things like "Sometimes I miss my ex, but my aim is improving." It's safe to say, you were the only man who's voice was allowed inside the house. Her take on life was very similar to yours, but I don't know if she absorbed it from you as much as she felt the need to keep good company around, even if it only came around once a week on the radio.
Thank you so much for your “Post from the Host.” I am 77 and limping along with a cane…but still limping. Please come to the Chicago area. My husband and I heard/saw you at Ravinia. It was probably the best stage show/monologue ever.
Writing as a decidedly non-comedic Jew, I am offended by the people who are offended by your description of Zelensky as a Jewish comedian. Both sobriquets are informative and odd enough to deserve mention, pace Krauthammer's Law.
Nothing can (or should) detract from the gravity and tragedy of Mr. Keillor's recent observations of the war (and war crimes) being committed in the Ukraine. I trust it will bring the ruination of Mr. Putin AND his Gang Of Oligarchs. BUT: it must be said that on the subject of BAGELS, you can look and look for the "best bagel in NYC"...fill your boots...but the BEST BAGEL will be found in Montreal. Yup: both boiled, but in Montreal boiled in honey water, smaller (size IS important and biggest is not best), denser (maybe because it's Canadian?) and crispier.
Thank you for being one of the stable people. I, at age 83 next month, am unstable. I love saying g it that way to get a reaction from my wife of 57 years.
In recent years I have began seeing the work of engineers and craftsmen in bridges, skyscrapers, etc., with awe. I didn't have time to notice before while hitchhiking and wandering through about fifty countries and all fifty states and being self employed as a private investigator, Alaskan bush pilot-flight instructor. I am also awed by what stable people accomplish. You have brightened the hours and days of millions of people. I salute you as a fellow octogenarian.
Unfathomable that your work draws such wrath from people of our age and circumstance. But strong whiffs of selfish, anti-social behavior blew through the summers of love and anti-war protests of the 60s/70s.
Thank you for showing multiple ways to respond to negative commenters.
Garrison: You asked "Which side are you on?" and you have received answers. It seems that despite a true catastrophe occurring in Ukraine, some cannot suspend their local grievance and support the international efforts to make aggression unprofitable and, more importantly, unsustainable. It's hard travellin', but better than the hard rain that could fall. With a bow to Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan.
Garrison,thank you for your answers to those who disagree with you comments. If those who disagree would write in the same manner a dialogue could possibly take place.
My hubby always knows when I am reading your newsletter. He can hear me laugh out loud or exclaim, "Wow!" from the other room.
You're like our very own Mark Twain.
I admire not only your mind, buy your courage and confidence! Thank you. Thank you!
Hang in there,lad! All will be well, we’re told, and I largely believe it. For what I don’t know what to believe or do, that old quip often carries me through:”Run to the roundhouse, Nellie! They’ll never corner you there.” Wise folks and politicians are often found there.
I’m flummoxed by the number of bitter, ill-informed, harshly negative people who attack you in print, but I admire you for your gutsy and patient responses.
Dear Mr. Keillor,
I live with the happy memory of PHC broadcast on Saturday evenings. There's no way to say thank you enough for all the music and stories.
You mentioned Ostroushko and I looked him up and found his playing a mandolin at the Concert for Ukraine. He spoke, OO-cry-EEN-uh, and that's what I hear when I recall the picture of the family killed on their way out. But more. When he plays his mandolin, I see an old man sitting on a homemade bench as he leans against a garden wall and creates the traditional sounds of that tortured country--tears of love and pain come out of his mandolin.
Sometimes I think the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse are always coming around the clubhouse turn.
Regarding the upcoming sunset for the Writer's Almanac, I'm sad, but not disappointed. At 30+ years, that's a good run. Also, I think I was there for all of it, since, back in the 1990's, my public station always played it when we woke up, about 630 every morning. A pleasant way to start a day. Now, I use the podcast to do my stretches so thanks for keeping all the old poems available. It's not like I memorized 30 years of poetry, so it will still be fresh when I listen to them again. Anyway, like that old philosopher George Harrison said once, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWV4pFV5nX4
One of your very best! Keep it (Trump bashing) up. Tell those who take issue with your view that the truth only hurts when it shuld!
Mack Stewart in CT
Garrison, I needed now at last to tell you that your voice is sorely needed in this world of gathering Woe! And add a bit of history here as well.
Now, at 95, I look back to many years of our “relationship.” Coming to northern Michigan in 1975 at age 50 for a “back to the land” beginning, we soon discovered your newly begun PHC on Interllochen Public Radio, which became our major source of recreation and entertainment in the little “hut” we built on our “promised land.” You opened your show with a polka (the Clarinet?) and we danced you into our Saturday Night each week.
Now that you are entering the stage of what Utah Phillips (another of our favorites,) called a Crusty Old Farthood, I still consider you, in my widowhood of 12 years, among my most beloved friends; and someone who has gained the wisdom of an aging soul. I honor you in many ways, not the least of which is your appreciation of and devotion to your beloved partner. You are indeed a lucky man, and I wish you many more years of basking in her lovely spirit while still bringing to the world your own inimitable wisdom and humor. Keep on Keeping on!
Julia Brabenec
Northport, MI.
Garrison,
It's Pi Day, and I just turned 39. I'm on the right side of 40 but the wrong side of 200 pounds. As many have pointed out to you, I grew up listening to your show. My Saturdays were spent traveling across the James River to Williamsburg, VA as a way of getting out of the house -we lived in Surry, which didn't have much to offer.
So much of my memory of your voice and stories are while staring out the window in the back seat, or teetering on a ferry, which lends itself to zoning out, and an overall pondering state, a state I've been stuck in since 1993! My mother passed away in August of 2020, and I found myself listening to your backlog of shows on your site, getting lost in them as I did as a kid and teen. I've come to realize that so much of my way of thinking and voice has come from the way you carve a meaningful story of everyday occurrences from a stone that most would only see as a dull piece of rock. Thanks for that.
When my mom divorced in the early 90's, there were little bumper stickers and framed signs, half hidden where only she could see them, that read things like "Sometimes I miss my ex, but my aim is improving." It's safe to say, you were the only man who's voice was allowed inside the house. Her take on life was very similar to yours, but I don't know if she absorbed it from you as much as she felt the need to keep good company around, even if it only came around once a week on the radio.
Seth
Charlottesville, VA
Thank you so much for your “Post from the Host.” I am 77 and limping along with a cane…but still limping. Please come to the Chicago area. My husband and I heard/saw you at Ravinia. It was probably the best stage show/monologue ever.
We send our love from Illinois.
KA
Writing as a decidedly non-comedic Jew, I am offended by the people who are offended by your description of Zelensky as a Jewish comedian. Both sobriquets are informative and odd enough to deserve mention, pace Krauthammer's Law.
Nothing can (or should) detract from the gravity and tragedy of Mr. Keillor's recent observations of the war (and war crimes) being committed in the Ukraine. I trust it will bring the ruination of Mr. Putin AND his Gang Of Oligarchs. BUT: it must be said that on the subject of BAGELS, you can look and look for the "best bagel in NYC"...fill your boots...but the BEST BAGEL will be found in Montreal. Yup: both boiled, but in Montreal boiled in honey water, smaller (size IS important and biggest is not best), denser (maybe because it's Canadian?) and crispier.
I'll show myself out.
Thank you for being one of the stable people. I, at age 83 next month, am unstable. I love saying g it that way to get a reaction from my wife of 57 years.
In recent years I have began seeing the work of engineers and craftsmen in bridges, skyscrapers, etc., with awe. I didn't have time to notice before while hitchhiking and wandering through about fifty countries and all fifty states and being self employed as a private investigator, Alaskan bush pilot-flight instructor. I am also awed by what stable people accomplish. You have brightened the hours and days of millions of people. I salute you as a fellow octogenarian.
Unfathomable that your work draws such wrath from people of our age and circumstance. But strong whiffs of selfish, anti-social behavior blew through the summers of love and anti-war protests of the 60s/70s.