Hopefully, the bluntness of the New Yorker who yelled out “Be funnier” got booed at least a bit. How rude. You have stories that warm the heart along with the laughter.
Carry on, Garrison, just as you have. Maybe karma met this rude man as he went home with perhaps a pizza delivery boy on an E-bike splashing him with a bit of puddle water.
Your heckler was probably just parroting Homer Simpson, who wouldn’t recognize subtle humor if it bit him. I’ve read that Matt Groening was a fan, btw. Merry Christmas! 🎁
Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to you and yours. I bought two copies of your book and have given them both away as presents. Spreading the cheer!
I asked a friend who has crossed 70 & is heading towards 80 what sort of changes he is feeling in himself? He sent me the following:
1. After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself.
2. I have realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.
3. I have stopped bargaining with vegetable & fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.
4. I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.
5. I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past.
6. I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.
7. I give compliments freely & generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say "Thank You.”
8. I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.
9. I walk away from people who don't value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.
10. I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat & neither am I in any race.
11. I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.
12. I have learned that it's better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone.
13. I have learned to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last.
14. I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!
I decided to share this for all my friends. Why do we have to wait to be 60 or 70 or 80, why can't we practice this at any stage and age?
I borrowed this. I don't know who to credit it to, but thank you!
Right near the end you say all that needs saying these days. God Bless You:
"Nowadays most of the conversation I hear is about opinion. I’m tired of hearing people talk about how much they despair of DJT. I’d rather hear about fishing, canoeing, anything. GK"
Amen! is all I can say too, is, "....and just, plain anything beautiful" It's not where we were. It's where we are now, God bless you!
Back when I was in first grade, I got in a fight with our CCD teacher, who was also the parish priest. The day's lesson was about souls; he said humans were special because we were the only creatures to have souls... which is when the trouble began. I piped up that dogs have souls, too. During the rather heated uncharacteristic argument that ensued (I was normally a very quiet, well behaved child), I maintained that it was true because Mommy told me that my recently deceased doggie had "gone to heaven." Poor Mom. She got an earful from the priest later. I've wandered a bit from from my Catholic upbringing, and have come to believe that ALL animals have souls, so I was very pleased when Pope Francis stated that animals other than humans do indeed have souls.
I see from this week's PTTH that getting a laugh out of you is now in play? Here's a joke I tell that always kills (no pressure): A couple in their 90's announce at a large gathering to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary that they are divorcing. Their friends and families are stunned. Finally one of the guests speaks up and asks: 'Why now? You've been together for 65 years." To which the wife replies: 'We were waiting for the children to die."
Just finished listening to several of the TS songs posted here. The subjects were all variations on the same theme. Not honest self deprecation as someone suggested, but all angst about this or that - set to hip hop thump of one sort or another - mostly teenage based as is her vast audience. At age 87, I think back to those years in the late 40's-mid 50's. Radio but only the beginnings of TV. I had a girlfriend and other friends. Also had an imagination and time to reflect and be motivated by it. No social media except the school newspaper written by fellow students. We did stuff as our imaginations took root - rebuilt antique cars, played sports, wrote for the newspaper, sock hops in the gym, formed a dance band to play at the dances, found the dark corners of the gym for a snuggle to a slow dance tune, learned to jitterbug from the black kids, drove our self created hot rodded cars around the town square. Formed our own neighborhood sports teams with mixed males and females. Not an adult in sight. Played spin the bottle at one kids playhouse in her backyard. Not a minute wasted on "what if" angst. If something was there to do, we did it. Managed to stay out of juvenile detention. Not one bit of interest in wasting time staring into some electronic device. Could TS's vast attraction be due to the lack of imagination (and resulting motivation) her fans all seem to have - and she's found that weak spot? How about fans of DT? Same syndrome? Your radio program, GK, was a throwback with significant popularity because of this imagination factor. I don't have to explain any further.
' I have the onstage persona of a Lutheran mortician. No, it was a dreadful monologue, and that makes me eager to do better. GK'
We're all entitled to our opinions. But dreadful can be so funny! And I feel it is possible to 'laugh with,' rather than 'laugh at,' under such circumstances.
(BTW, I viewed the 'Mean' vid, which was posted 12 years ago. I really enjoyed it. I am not familiar with Ms Swift, but I wish her all the best. She has 55.8M YouTube subscribers, and this vid has 224M views -- think about that for a moment.)
Hopefully, the bluntness of the New Yorker who yelled out “Be funnier” got booed at least a bit. How rude. You have stories that warm the heart along with the laughter.
Carry on, Garrison, just as you have. Maybe karma met this rude man as he went home with perhaps a pizza delivery boy on an E-bike splashing him with a bit of puddle water.
Your heckler was probably just parroting Homer Simpson, who wouldn’t recognize subtle humor if it bit him. I’ve read that Matt Groening was a fan, btw. Merry Christmas! 🎁
Yes, he was setting you up, and hopefully you had something prepared to say back.
Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to you and yours. I bought two copies of your book and have given them both away as presents. Spreading the cheer!
From a friend:
I asked a friend who has crossed 70 & is heading towards 80 what sort of changes he is feeling in himself? He sent me the following:
1. After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself.
2. I have realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.
3. I have stopped bargaining with vegetable & fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.
4. I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.
5. I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past.
6. I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.
7. I give compliments freely & generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say "Thank You.”
8. I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.
9. I walk away from people who don't value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.
10. I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat & neither am I in any race.
11. I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.
12. I have learned that it's better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone.
13. I have learned to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last.
14. I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!
I decided to share this for all my friends. Why do we have to wait to be 60 or 70 or 80, why can't we practice this at any stage and age?
I borrowed this. I don't know who to credit it to, but thank you!
Painting by: James Coates
Right near the end you say all that needs saying these days. God Bless You:
"Nowadays most of the conversation I hear is about opinion. I’m tired of hearing people talk about how much they despair of DJT. I’d rather hear about fishing, canoeing, anything. GK"
Amen! is all I can say too, is, "....and just, plain anything beautiful" It's not where we were. It's where we are now, God bless you!
Another variant (sort of) of the ladies in bar joke:
Q: “Why was the heir apparent in France called ‘Le Dauphin’?”
A: “Because England has The Prince of Whales.”
Back when I was in first grade, I got in a fight with our CCD teacher, who was also the parish priest. The day's lesson was about souls; he said humans were special because we were the only creatures to have souls... which is when the trouble began. I piped up that dogs have souls, too. During the rather heated uncharacteristic argument that ensued (I was normally a very quiet, well behaved child), I maintained that it was true because Mommy told me that my recently deceased doggie had "gone to heaven." Poor Mom. She got an earful from the priest later. I've wandered a bit from from my Catholic upbringing, and have come to believe that ALL animals have souls, so I was very pleased when Pope Francis stated that animals other than humans do indeed have souls.
Do Episcopalians believe that dogs go to heaven?
I see from this week's PTTH that getting a laugh out of you is now in play? Here's a joke I tell that always kills (no pressure): A couple in their 90's announce at a large gathering to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary that they are divorcing. Their friends and families are stunned. Finally one of the guests speaks up and asks: 'Why now? You've been together for 65 years." To which the wife replies: 'We were waiting for the children to die."
I hope you are still planning to visit Newberry, SC in March...
How much do I have to pay to hear the Taylor Swift horse joke?
Nothing, you can find it here: https://garrisonkeillor.substack.com/p/how-did-we-get-into-this-mess?utm_medium=reader2 (look at the third paragraph). Merry Christmas! 😊
Merry Christmas
Just finished listening to several of the TS songs posted here. The subjects were all variations on the same theme. Not honest self deprecation as someone suggested, but all angst about this or that - set to hip hop thump of one sort or another - mostly teenage based as is her vast audience. At age 87, I think back to those years in the late 40's-mid 50's. Radio but only the beginnings of TV. I had a girlfriend and other friends. Also had an imagination and time to reflect and be motivated by it. No social media except the school newspaper written by fellow students. We did stuff as our imaginations took root - rebuilt antique cars, played sports, wrote for the newspaper, sock hops in the gym, formed a dance band to play at the dances, found the dark corners of the gym for a snuggle to a slow dance tune, learned to jitterbug from the black kids, drove our self created hot rodded cars around the town square. Formed our own neighborhood sports teams with mixed males and females. Not an adult in sight. Played spin the bottle at one kids playhouse in her backyard. Not a minute wasted on "what if" angst. If something was there to do, we did it. Managed to stay out of juvenile detention. Not one bit of interest in wasting time staring into some electronic device. Could TS's vast attraction be due to the lack of imagination (and resulting motivation) her fans all seem to have - and she's found that weak spot? How about fans of DT? Same syndrome? Your radio program, GK, was a throwback with significant popularity because of this imagination factor. I don't have to explain any further.
You certainly don't. Life is all about competition and comparison. Unless it isn't.
' I have the onstage persona of a Lutheran mortician. No, it was a dreadful monologue, and that makes me eager to do better. GK'
We're all entitled to our opinions. But dreadful can be so funny! And I feel it is possible to 'laugh with,' rather than 'laugh at,' under such circumstances.
(BTW, I viewed the 'Mean' vid, which was posted 12 years ago. I really enjoyed it. I am not familiar with Ms Swift, but I wish her all the best. She has 55.8M YouTube subscribers, and this vid has 224M views -- think about that for a moment.)