Post to the Host

Comments from the week of 10.02.22

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Comment/Question of the Week

Dear GK,

Long ago in NYC, a girl was killed by falling debris and thus was born the scaffolding industry. Some estimate that there are 280 miles of scaffolding in the city. As a writer and resident, you may be interested in all the esoterica associated with this vast business. An entertaining place to learn about it is in John Wilson’s show. Watch the trailer to the show here:

From “How To With John Wilson” on HBO: Episode 2 “How to Put Up Scaffolding”

Bob Hall

San Francisco, CA

We’ve had scaffolding around our building in New York for years as workmen do tuckpointing and other repairs. We do our best to ignore it. We go walking in Central Park, which is scaffold-free. You’re the first person to send me a link to a TV show about scaffolding. I’m going to save it for when the Series is over and there’s nothing worthwhile on TV. GK

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GK,

Re: “Were I to write condemning Putin, it would only be for the pleasure of expressing condemnation and would add nothing worthwhile to the conversation. When I was in college, I wrote plenty of term papers about subjects I knew nothing about. I tried to leave that behind.”

Standard definition of an intellectual: Someone who speaks with authority on matters in which she has no particular competence. I’m glad you aren’t one! Not sure I can say the same for myself ...

Elizabeth Block, Toronto, Canada

I don’t agree with the definition, having known some people of wide-ranging minds who loved to engage other minds in competitive conceptual contemplations. I admired them all. But my mind has shrunk since then and now I enjoy small talk. And in my old age, I’m committed to cheerfulness, which reduces the range of conversation. I avoid complaining about contemporary culture. I love to reminisce. There’s so much in my past I don’t understand and I need to keep trying. GK

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GK,

Just finished reading Home Grown Democrat for the umpteenth time. Every time I read it, it seems to be more appropriate than the last. I just laugh till I cry. Repeatedly.

Tim

I’ve become a disgruntled Democrat since then, irritated by the woke jargon and the incompetence of the young progressives who seem to be in power in Minneapolis. I avoid thinking about them, so I sit and write fiction instead. GK

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GK,

Several years ago, my wife and I were seeing our daughter off on a missionary trip and I could swear I saw you standing, reading, in the terminal. I told her I thought was you and pointed out your red socks. Were you ever at the terminal in Indy?

David Kelly

I may have been, David, but that’s not the interesting part of the story. Where was your daughter going to be a missionary? What happened to her there? Where is she now? That’s what I want to know. GK

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Dear Mr. Keillor,

One of your correspondents recently wrote to complain about the limerick that used Jim-or-Rick as a rhyme. While that effort may not have solved the problem it addressed, it was nevertheless impressive. So, the criticism struck me as churlish. Indeed, it called to mind Ann Lander’s response to a complaint about a limerick. It inspired one of her readers to object to her publication of the verse in newspapers.

In response to the objection, Landers printed the limerick again.

Here it is:
A spinster who lives in Duluth
Always weeps when she thinks of her youth,
Recollecting the chances
She’d had at school dances,
And once in a telephone booth.

(On an unrelated subject, be sure to visit the fabulous Holographic Studios in lower Manhattan. Bring a child.)

Best regards,

Dr. Richard Friary

I missed that Duluth limerick. Thanks for sending it. GK

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I am, admittedly, six years younger than you — but I cannot, for the life of me, recall who Jerry was in your list of those of our generation that died young. Please enlighten me — for as I said, I cannot, for the life of me, recall who he was. And I want a few more years — not forever, understand, but a few more years — and I fear that without the knowledge of the Jerry in your memory, I will not make it more than a few more days!

Glen Grady

Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, died at 53. I loved their American Beauty album and Heather Masse and I have sung “Ripple” and “Attics of My Life” from it. GK

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Dear GK,

I notice that you sometimes talk about the “joys” of becoming irrelevant. I think I understand what you’re saying, but on the other hand, I wonder if it’s really a deep-seated fear that many of us have that we will be forgotten after we’re gone.

Jan S.

It’s nothing to fear; it’s a certainty like death itself. When I was in high school, I read the Diary of Anne Frank and was stunned by it. She felt like a friend. I thought I knew her better than I knew my cousins or classmates. I hope people are still reading the book. GK

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GK,

I live in Florida, and thankfully, I was not affected terribly by hurricane Ian, but I know many who are trying to recover from the devastation. Coming from Minnesota, you don’t have hurricanes, but what are some of the worst weather events you’ve personally experienced in your home state? I’ve never been to Minnesota, though I know it’s cold. And I imagine Ian reinforced your lack of desire to move to Florida. I still like it here but I’m not on the coast.

Shondra

My dad loved to go out on the front lawn and watch storms while my mother sheltered in the basement. We had a few tornadoes nearby, some beautiful thunderstorms, and of course some massive blizzards. But snow is light, it doesn’t crush buildings, it just melts. Yes, Minnesota can be cold but only if you’re improperly dressed. GK

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Mr. Keillor,

I am impressed that you have decided to “ease into a life of cheerfulness.” I, too, choose to see things as awe-ful, not awful. It’s not always easy and I’ve seen my share of tragedy in my 75 years on this earth, but it does no good to dwell on past mistakes. The one thing I can’t seem to get over is the death of my husband (married 51 years!). Some days it hits me like a brick, and I am so grief-stricken, but I know it’s only because of the love we shared that makes me miss him so. I’m filled with awe because of it. You are so lucky to have a wife you adore and who adores you. Bless you and enjoy every minute.

Sue Ellingson

North Dakota

I wish I knew how to advise you. I’m fifteen years older than my wife and when I die I want her to get rid of my stuff and not live in a museum. All the clothes, all the books and CDs: out the door. And though life is unpredictable and change happens at its own pace and following its own routes, I’d want her to find someone else to hold her hand and be close to. A friend of mine lost his young wife when he was almost 90 and a few years later he found Peggy who saw him up to the century mark and beyond. It was an excellent old age. GK

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Mr. Keillor:

I am not a fan of yours but I sometimes read your column, which my sister sends me in hopes of making me a liberal like you but I glance at the column and when I see the name “Trump” I delete it without reading. He is a great man who is under attack from all sides but I believe he will prevail and regain the White House in 2024 and with the House and Senate in conservative hands as of this November, and a conservative majority on the Court, we will change this country back to the country God intended it to be. So brace yourself. You are fighting for a lost cause.

Brad Speer

Kansas City

“Great”? I don’t see it but you may be right about changing the country. Man proposes, God disposes. We shall see. GK