You are wonderful, Mr. Keillor. Always so kindly even to comments that raise my ire at times. I’m turning 71 this week and want to aspire to being as kind as you are when faced with remarks that are so critical of others. Thank you for always making my mornings uplifting.
The impending demise of TWA is heartbreaking for so many of your devoted listeners and readers. Is it a financial issue? If so is there any way it can be continued? A Go-Fund-Me campaign, an appeal to the audience?
I am 85, and certainly understand the urge to divest; if that is the underlying issue I respect that without reservation. We all wish you and she-who-must-be-obeyed the best. We will continue to soldier on, albeit somewhat diminished.
Back when it was going full-steam, TWA employed several researchers and they worked to keep the history fresh and to find poets whose work reads well but when Minnesota Public Radio killed the series in 2017, we lost those resources and the series lost its energy and became stitched-together reruns and I am too busy doing my own work to pay attention to it and so it's time for someone else to take over. Simple as that. GK
I think the recent "fix" will be a good solution. There must be a passel of biographies linked to 365 days a year. I'm sure most of us have missed at least some of this information. Having a good "library of resources" should be enough for most of us. I'm sure we'll read some vignettes that prompt the "Gee, Whiz! I didn't know that!" response. That puts spice in the day!
I like the idea that you're rationing you time for your "Future" - reaching out with those many fertile ideas in your head that we haven't had access to yet! We'll get by with the TWA reruns!
I was very moved by your comments regarding the passing of your grandson, and wanted to share with you the recent poetry book that finally allowed me to look with favor on recent poetry (I have heard that “modern” is a genre and I’m not certain it applies, so I’m trying to avoid using the word). The few lit classes I took in college abhorred nineteenth-century poets for their meter, whereas I always saw the great ones (Tennyson and Arnold) as poets who could capture the deepest truth of something in a single phrase. Your comment brought to mind vividly the lines in In Memoriam AHH where Tennyson describes his mind being “ like a child crying in the night, and with no language but a cry” and the comments of others being “ chaff well- meant for wheat.” Nothing extraneous there, just right to the heart of the matter. I had the same feeling when I picked up, merely out of curiosity, Alice Oswald’s book Memorial - a Version of Homer’s Iliad, and had the breath knocked out of me from the very first line. And the power was not at all diminished in the repetitive stanzas of nature images, like people trying to make sense of their loss by repeating over and over “I just spoke with him last night”. I am no poet and certainly no erudite critic, but I appreciate the power of stark earnestness that speaks to something more profound than self-expression. I had to put it down many times just to sob for awhile when a line or visual image evoked some long- buried grief. I found it to be a very healing book, and send this post to recommend it to you, when grief looks to be faced. Though I do admit that, since I do not know Greek pronunciation, I had to start referring to the fallen as Bert, Ernie, Fred, George, etc. It lost nothing. Sorry this has been so long. Keep writing.
Wow, the letter from Cat sent me down a very interesting internet rabbit warren. Curious, I'd typed "Václav Havelc" and "cold war song" into Google and - while I failed to find the elusive song - I did find all sorts of strange information, including a fascinating article about a rock band called The Plastic People of the Universe (which later disbanded and reassembled into another band called Pulnoc). Apparently rock `n Roll had a lot to do with the Fall of the Berlin Wall!
My favorite paragraph from the web page:
"The '80's had brought a new sound to Czechoslovakia: punk rock. The appearance of this new music on the scene almost made the Communists wish the kids were listening to the Beatles again. Leather-clad teenagers with spiky, tri-colored hair and bad attitudes gave the Communist officials new problems to worry about and mainstream rock began to seem like the lesser of two Devils"
Is there any chance that your archives hold a recording of 'Come Home, Come Home, It's Suppertime?' You used to sing that occasionally on PHC many years ago when I was getting supper ready on Saturday night (with the radio on) and I just flat-out loved it. It reminded me of long-ago autumns when dusk came early and my sisters and I would play outside with the neighbor kids until the moms called us all in for supper. It's a sweet memory.
You'll find a dozen or so versions of "Come Home, It's Suppertime" on YouTube, a standard old C&W weeper. I think I may have sung it as a joke, maybe adding some lyrics about what was being served for supper.
Many years ago I purchased from the Prairie Home Companion an engraved wooden plaque with the statement - " Anything You Do for children is never wasted". I thought about that comment and believe that it is wrong. The plaque should state - " Time spent with children is never wasted ". I have seen many times some things that parents do for children that is counter productive. I have never seen time spent with children to be counter productive. In the final analysis, your kids want your time.
A very good point, sir. The difficulty is the vagueness of "spending time with" –– I think I know what you mean, but it's hard to define simply. Adults spent quite a bit of time around me when I was little but they didn't really notice me, I was brought up to be invisible, and I now have no clear memory of them, whereas I do remember things grownups DID for me, an aunt who paid attention, several teachers who turned me in a different direction, and I remember them very clearly.
Garrison, what a gift you are to my life, and have been for decades. Have enjoyed so much your books -- and now your twice weekly columns. I'm right behind you in years, and find solace in your perspectives. So wise and wonderfully written. I do have one point I'd like you to consider. I understand your self-deprecating views on our generations -- but I don't think it helps us as a nation if you keep referring to Biden as old. Yes he's old, but that's not the same as incompetent. No he is not Volodomyr Zelensky, and yet he is in a way. He's just what we need. A deliberate, restrained, experienced, competent and wise leader in a harrowing time. Quietly he gets done what needs to be done in this horrible moment in history. Oh my, consider the alternative. You are an influential man with your readers so I'd just be mindful that attaching this stereotype of a tired old dog to Biden may be something you don't want to perpetuate. Your columns are essential reading for me. I'm with you all the way, Garrison. Your temperament, gratitude and peace are balm I've come to count on. Be well and do take good care of yourself. Thanks you so very much, Elinor Donahue
You are wonderful, Mr. Keillor. Always so kindly even to comments that raise my ire at times. I’m turning 71 this week and want to aspire to being as kind as you are when faced with remarks that are so critical of others. Thank you for always making my mornings uplifting.
Dear Garrison,
The impending demise of TWA is heartbreaking for so many of your devoted listeners and readers. Is it a financial issue? If so is there any way it can be continued? A Go-Fund-Me campaign, an appeal to the audience?
I am 85, and certainly understand the urge to divest; if that is the underlying issue I respect that without reservation. We all wish you and she-who-must-be-obeyed the best. We will continue to soldier on, albeit somewhat diminished.
Back when it was going full-steam, TWA employed several researchers and they worked to keep the history fresh and to find poets whose work reads well but when Minnesota Public Radio killed the series in 2017, we lost those resources and the series lost its energy and became stitched-together reruns and I am too busy doing my own work to pay attention to it and so it's time for someone else to take over. Simple as that. GK
I think the recent "fix" will be a good solution. There must be a passel of biographies linked to 365 days a year. I'm sure most of us have missed at least some of this information. Having a good "library of resources" should be enough for most of us. I'm sure we'll read some vignettes that prompt the "Gee, Whiz! I didn't know that!" response. That puts spice in the day!
I like the idea that you're rationing you time for your "Future" - reaching out with those many fertile ideas in your head that we haven't had access to yet! We'll get by with the TWA reruns!
Keep on flying HIgh, GK!
I was very moved by your comments regarding the passing of your grandson, and wanted to share with you the recent poetry book that finally allowed me to look with favor on recent poetry (I have heard that “modern” is a genre and I’m not certain it applies, so I’m trying to avoid using the word). The few lit classes I took in college abhorred nineteenth-century poets for their meter, whereas I always saw the great ones (Tennyson and Arnold) as poets who could capture the deepest truth of something in a single phrase. Your comment brought to mind vividly the lines in In Memoriam AHH where Tennyson describes his mind being “ like a child crying in the night, and with no language but a cry” and the comments of others being “ chaff well- meant for wheat.” Nothing extraneous there, just right to the heart of the matter. I had the same feeling when I picked up, merely out of curiosity, Alice Oswald’s book Memorial - a Version of Homer’s Iliad, and had the breath knocked out of me from the very first line. And the power was not at all diminished in the repetitive stanzas of nature images, like people trying to make sense of their loss by repeating over and over “I just spoke with him last night”. I am no poet and certainly no erudite critic, but I appreciate the power of stark earnestness that speaks to something more profound than self-expression. I had to put it down many times just to sob for awhile when a line or visual image evoked some long- buried grief. I found it to be a very healing book, and send this post to recommend it to you, when grief looks to be faced. Though I do admit that, since I do not know Greek pronunciation, I had to start referring to the fallen as Bert, Ernie, Fred, George, etc. It lost nothing. Sorry this has been so long. Keep writing.
Faye
Zumbrota
I never read Homer so I will remember to look up Alice. Thanks.
Wow, the letter from Cat sent me down a very interesting internet rabbit warren. Curious, I'd typed "Václav Havelc" and "cold war song" into Google and - while I failed to find the elusive song - I did find all sorts of strange information, including a fascinating article about a rock band called The Plastic People of the Universe (which later disbanded and reassembled into another band called Pulnoc). Apparently rock `n Roll had a lot to do with the Fall of the Berlin Wall!
My favorite paragraph from the web page:
"The '80's had brought a new sound to Czechoslovakia: punk rock. The appearance of this new music on the scene almost made the Communists wish the kids were listening to the Beatles again. Leather-clad teenagers with spiky, tri-colored hair and bad attitudes gave the Communist officials new problems to worry about and mainstream rock began to seem like the lesser of two Devils"
It's a fascinating read, you can find it here: https://www.furious.com/perfect/pulnoc.html
Look up the love between Havel and Lou Reed.
That's mentioned in the article - also the meeting of Frank Zappa and Shirley Temple Black. 😉
Is there any chance that your archives hold a recording of 'Come Home, Come Home, It's Suppertime?' You used to sing that occasionally on PHC many years ago when I was getting supper ready on Saturday night (with the radio on) and I just flat-out loved it. It reminded me of long-ago autumns when dusk came early and my sisters and I would play outside with the neighbor kids until the moms called us all in for supper. It's a sweet memory.
You'll find a dozen or so versions of "Come Home, It's Suppertime" on YouTube, a standard old C&W weeper. I think I may have sung it as a joke, maybe adding some lyrics about what was being served for supper.
Many years ago I purchased from the Prairie Home Companion an engraved wooden plaque with the statement - " Anything You Do for children is never wasted". I thought about that comment and believe that it is wrong. The plaque should state - " Time spent with children is never wasted ". I have seen many times some things that parents do for children that is counter productive. I have never seen time spent with children to be counter productive. In the final analysis, your kids want your time.
A very good point, sir. The difficulty is the vagueness of "spending time with" –– I think I know what you mean, but it's hard to define simply. Adults spent quite a bit of time around me when I was little but they didn't really notice me, I was brought up to be invisible, and I now have no clear memory of them, whereas I do remember things grownups DID for me, an aunt who paid attention, several teachers who turned me in a different direction, and I remember them very clearly.
Garrison, what a gift you are to my life, and have been for decades. Have enjoyed so much your books -- and now your twice weekly columns. I'm right behind you in years, and find solace in your perspectives. So wise and wonderfully written. I do have one point I'd like you to consider. I understand your self-deprecating views on our generations -- but I don't think it helps us as a nation if you keep referring to Biden as old. Yes he's old, but that's not the same as incompetent. No he is not Volodomyr Zelensky, and yet he is in a way. He's just what we need. A deliberate, restrained, experienced, competent and wise leader in a harrowing time. Quietly he gets done what needs to be done in this horrible moment in history. Oh my, consider the alternative. You are an influential man with your readers so I'd just be mindful that attaching this stereotype of a tired old dog to Biden may be something you don't want to perpetuate. Your columns are essential reading for me. I'm with you all the way, Garrison. Your temperament, gratitude and peace are balm I've come to count on. Be well and do take good care of yourself. Thanks you so very much, Elinor Donahue