The Year Without a Santa Claus, Phyllis McGinley, 1957... almost equal to Mary Oliver or Billy Collins... All-time favorite: Santa has woken up on the wrong side of the bed. He's got a crick in his neck, a cold in his nose, and aches in his fingers and all ten toes. So Santa decides to take his first vacation in one thousand years. The Elves, the reindeer, the Gnomes, and, most of all, the children around the world are upset when they find out. But then one six-year old boy comes to Santa's rescue, and children everywhere band together to give Santa a Christmas he'll never forget!
The Ingqvists at the State Bank but they avoided stocks and stuck with municipal bonds except for Ford and General Mills, makers of Cheerios. Better to put your money under the mattress than to play with Wall Street.
They are a grace to the skies, with the leader goose leading, climbing and turning. Those big birds can be up where airplanes fly and it's someone's job to look about, lest it crash a cockpit and take a pilot to his eternal reward.
Or, ask of you, skills like those of Captain "Sully," and set you down gracefully on the Hudson, with his skills both wild and tamed.
I am remembering an incredibly precarious stretch in my life in the early 1990s when the only sustaining, reliable feature happened to be Saturday APHC. Now, approaching twice the age I was, there is a stateliness, as you mention, which is in some ways universal. No need to panic. But when you said "2023," I thought you might expect to be sick and miss St. Louis. Hope not. And let 2023 not be a repeat but an advance.
Just love these posts. Finally tracked down your mailing address from Aunt Dorothy. Look for our Christmas letter from last year (with a tribute to your cousin Billy) and this year's coming in the mail soon. Wishing you and Jenny a very Merry New York Christmas!
Garrison! "My man!" as the expression goes. It means you are a soul friend, knows vulnerability and the incredible gifts sitting right before us. I too have liked your recent offerings; looking forward to more. I was celebrated yesterday at my Presbyterian Church as I leave them just after Christmas and say goodbye to fifty years of ministry. It has been some ride. But my query is simple: years and years ago I heard you telling the story of the night the savior was born. That is all I remember and I have wanted to read it to a congregation and this is my last chance. Thanks for trying and being such a character!
I just wanted to let you know that the CD of duets you have available is one of my favorites. I have it in the 4 CD changer in my car and sometimes have to listen to it over and over. If you have anymore like thee in the pipeline, let us know, please!
I was one of your loyal fans, too, for PHC, never wanting to miss it. Living in Minnesota and all your references to Lake Woebegone made it seem local. I lived for 15 years in a rural farm community before coming to the Twin City area for another job, so I knew a little about farm life.
I was thinking about David's comment about forgiveness requiring contrition on the part of an offender. This leaves the power with the offender who may never be contrite - they may be incapable of contrition. Forgiveness for me is letting go, believing in karma, wanting that suck of energy to be a positive enhancing one rather than a lingering dark and dwelling one. Thanks to David for the nudge to ponder this. Garrison, when you were living in Freeport, MN did you know the writer Glanville Smith? I wish I had met him. What an interesting person to have lived in Cold Spring, MN.
I did not know him. I didn't know anybody around there except Joe O'Connell the sculptor in St. Joe and Fred and Romy Petters in St. Cloud and Father Hillary at St. John's.
Dear Garrison: I am struck this morning, by how sometimes, your responses to these people who love you and pour their heart out to you, are a little tone-deaf. I guess it makes for interesting reading, but I hope you're not missing the intent in the letters.
Merry Christmas Garrison! I have an odd musical recommendation for you. I ALSO despise "Little Drummer Boy" but found that someone had made something new and wonderful from a tired old tidy. Amy Gilliom is a Hawaiian singer that I suspect you already know. She combined Drummer Boy and Do you Hear into a slack key gem. Like I said, I dislike both songs normally, but I love this little gem. Hope you give it a listen and enjoy it like I do.
The Year Without a Santa Claus, Phyllis McGinley, 1957... almost equal to Mary Oliver or Billy Collins... All-time favorite: Santa has woken up on the wrong side of the bed. He's got a crick in his neck, a cold in his nose, and aches in his fingers and all ten toes. So Santa decides to take his first vacation in one thousand years. The Elves, the reindeer, the Gnomes, and, most of all, the children around the world are upset when they find out. But then one six-year old boy comes to Santa's rescue, and children everywhere band together to give Santa a Christmas he'll never forget!
See you Thursday... and Thank you for all.
Did/does Lake Wobegon have a financial advisor, such as a stock broker or financial planner? If so, how did he/she do?
The Ingqvists at the State Bank but they avoided stocks and stuck with municipal bonds except for Ford and General Mills, makers of Cheerios. Better to put your money under the mattress than to play with Wall Street.
They are a grace to the skies, with the leader goose leading, climbing and turning. Those big birds can be up where airplanes fly and it's someone's job to look about, lest it crash a cockpit and take a pilot to his eternal reward.
Or, ask of you, skills like those of Captain "Sully," and set you down gracefully on the Hudson, with his skills both wild and tamed.
Are you well enough for your St Louis gig on Thursday?
I am indeed. Never better. Wouldn't miss it for the world.
I am remembering an incredibly precarious stretch in my life in the early 1990s when the only sustaining, reliable feature happened to be Saturday APHC. Now, approaching twice the age I was, there is a stateliness, as you mention, which is in some ways universal. No need to panic. But when you said "2023," I thought you might expect to be sick and miss St. Louis. Hope not. And let 2023 not be a repeat but an advance.
Just love these posts. Finally tracked down your mailing address from Aunt Dorothy. Look for our Christmas letter from last year (with a tribute to your cousin Billy) and this year's coming in the mail soon. Wishing you and Jenny a very Merry New York Christmas!
Oh and we are excited to be signed up to watch A Prairie Companion Christmas live online this Thursday! Christmas present to us!
Garrison! "My man!" as the expression goes. It means you are a soul friend, knows vulnerability and the incredible gifts sitting right before us. I too have liked your recent offerings; looking forward to more. I was celebrated yesterday at my Presbyterian Church as I leave them just after Christmas and say goodbye to fifty years of ministry. It has been some ride. But my query is simple: years and years ago I heard you telling the story of the night the savior was born. That is all I remember and I have wanted to read it to a congregation and this is my last chance. Thanks for trying and being such a character!
Steve Engelhardt Elysburg, PA
I think I had him born in the backseat of a Honda Civic and truckers came and worshipped him. I don't remember all the details.
Dear Garrison.
I just wanted to let you know that the CD of duets you have available is one of my favorites. I have it in the 4 CD changer in my car and sometimes have to listen to it over and over. If you have anymore like thee in the pipeline, let us know, please!
I was one of your loyal fans, too, for PHC, never wanting to miss it. Living in Minnesota and all your references to Lake Woebegone made it seem local. I lived for 15 years in a rural farm community before coming to the Twin City area for another job, so I knew a little about farm life.
Warren Johnson
I was thinking about David's comment about forgiveness requiring contrition on the part of an offender. This leaves the power with the offender who may never be contrite - they may be incapable of contrition. Forgiveness for me is letting go, believing in karma, wanting that suck of energy to be a positive enhancing one rather than a lingering dark and dwelling one. Thanks to David for the nudge to ponder this. Garrison, when you were living in Freeport, MN did you know the writer Glanville Smith? I wish I had met him. What an interesting person to have lived in Cold Spring, MN.
I did not know him. I didn't know anybody around there except Joe O'Connell the sculptor in St. Joe and Fred and Romy Petters in St. Cloud and Father Hillary at St. John's.
Dear Garrison: I am struck this morning, by how sometimes, your responses to these people who love you and pour their heart out to you, are a little tone-deaf. I guess it makes for interesting reading, but I hope you're not missing the intent in the letters.
Or maybe you are just weary of all this adoration?
Merry Christmas Garrison! I have an odd musical recommendation for you. I ALSO despise "Little Drummer Boy" but found that someone had made something new and wonderful from a tired old tidy. Amy Gilliom is a Hawaiian singer that I suspect you already know. She combined Drummer Boy and Do you Hear into a slack key gem. Like I said, I dislike both songs normally, but I love this little gem. Hope you give it a listen and enjoy it like I do.
Steven Howard