I am thoroughly enjoying “Cheerfulness.“ It’s your best writing to date. Also, the podcast, though I play it at 1.25x speed. It makes you sound younger without reducing your wisdom.
My wife and daughter and I will entertain each other. No more PHC cruises, unfortunately. We lost our friend at Holland America (he retired) and so the door is shut.
Aw, Gee Whiz! The one reason I enjoyed having a "well paying job" was that I could look forward to APHC Cruises once a year! As a "Lonely Little Democrat in a Republican Patch" it has been such a relief to be among like-minded folk. Sure, other shipboard entertainers might manage to stay on tune. But Where's the SPICE!? The World-View of the APHC entertainment crew has been consistently progressive, thoughtful and all-encompassing! Add to that, the fact that except for a few stranded spouses, most of us have similar, APHC Worldviews! I SO LOVED the discussion sessions and talks we were privileged to attend while aboard ship! It was as if we were in our own, private, considerate country, where wealth, power or position took aback seats to "Being "Good People!" It's as if we had been driving on back-country dirt roads all year. Then we got aboard the APHC Car Wash, and the whole world brightened up - became more hopeful! We'd go to the evening meal afterwards, and continue the discussions, with fervor, until we had to retire for the night!
They say platinum is a good catalyst. When it comes to Humans, I'd take GK In Person any day, as being far superior!
Well, dunno if you listen to GK but my humble opinion is you should, for many reasons but mostly as he is rational intelligent calm interesting & a huge relief to anyone crazy enough to try to listen to local or national "news"...
I just looked up the definition of "news"...
noteworthy information, especially about recent or important events
Now tell me how much of the crap you hear or see on broadcast media meet these simple criteria... yes I agree... virtually none...
GK mentions being an introvert, which I increasingly see being my political party of choice, & just about the only way I can insure myself of good company (autocorrect said compost instead of company, sometimes it's really smart). With apologies to many friends with whom I am always interested in leaning against the car & talking with.
An Introvert - Yes. As I understand it, it takes a lot of bravery for an "Introvert" to stand up on a stage and entertain others. Patching his scenario together - I get the picture of a boy belonging to an uncommon religious sect who was tortured mercilessly in his elementary school lunchroom - until he began sharing some made-on-the-spot fantasies. "Comedy as a self-defense mechanism!" And, as we've seen the results, he turned to writing, and found a grateful audience! And We're Still Grateful, GK! Being an Introvert is nothing to be ashamed of, when you can do as much with it as you've been able to accomplish!
Thank you for choosing to ask for help, in a dignified fashion, with your luggage and coffee. I hope you'll address the subject again. In 20 months I, too, will be 80, another product of midwestern culture that viewed as shameful asking for or accepting help. Now, as I struggle awkwardly and others offer, it's absurdly hard to say "Thank you! That's very kind," without bruising my conscience. Please help find the words that will make it easier and more graceful on myself and others. -- Carol, Falmouth, MA
I thought this was a masculine problem and now I see it's broader than that. I live in a NY co=op building with a number of doormen and they are very aggressive in taking charge of luggage and loading it into a taxi and there's no point in fighting with them. So I've crossed that line already. Keep at it. You can too.
Dear Mr. Keillor, My husband and I began listening to PHC in about 1980 from Eugene and have been faithful listeners, readers and attendants of your Oregon shows all these years, and as far as we are concerned You're the Top. But you are missing a wonderful treat by eschewing Caesar salad. It is not related to the Roman tyrant. "Caesar salad was invented in the early 1920s by Caesar Cardini, an Italian chef who owned a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. He moved to Tijuana from California to avoid Prohibition, and it was here, on July 4th, 1924, where Caesar is believed to have invented the Caesar Salad" To quote the succinct Google. - Pat Lambert
I wish the poems and other writings you refer to in each post could be included with that post rather than as a separate file. I don't think I'm lazy, but I too am an octogenarian and even typing that word confuses me. I imagine there's some publication rule that limits where you put the material, but I always enjoyed reading those pieces and would like to have them easier to reach. Thanks.
Mr. K, your replies to the comments are as interesting as your stand up performances. At 80 you have aged fine. I am at 91 and sometimes I am tempted to act my age.
Hi Garrison, Re: Your Handel lyrics: My wife Angie is inclined toward lengthy goodbyes out at a visitor's car. It seems a prairie ritual when visitors were from the next sod house six miles down the trail, and your next visitors might be Comanches. I call it the Arkansas Farewell, but feel free to substitute any prairie territory. Roger Krenkler, LA
It's also a precaution, to accompany them to the car and say goodbye, to make sure they're leaving before yu hug them. If you hug them in the house, they might stay longer.
I think Susan was being literal when she said you have to scratch Minneapolis from your website profile. If you were raised in Minnesota there is no escape. I live in New Zealand but am still a Minnesotan. I used to try to run from this (literally, to the end of the world) but Minnesota kept grabbing me by the collar and reminding me that I am indeed a Minnesotan. Now I drown out the relentless rainstorms of Auckland 2023 by listening to YouTube audio of blizzards and winter winds. The dry scraping sound of snowflakes on windowpanes takes me back to the winters of Minnesota as a child. I don't actually want to be in MN to experience this again in person but find it a soothing alternative to this year's rain rain rain. New York does sound good Garrison. However, you don't have to choose. As I recall, you plan to be buried in rural MN, in the long distant future. You'll reside there a lot longer than you have in NYC. Just a thought.
Your mention of having had a fine elementary education reminded me that being deprived of an education was one of the most devastating losses that enslaved people suffered. I think that reparation should consist of enhanced educational opportunities for people (maybe including educational loan forgiveness) who can show that they had slave ancestors. It is not that difficult to determine what fraction of a person's ancestors were slaves from the results of a DNA test and the construction of a family tree. About 10 years ago, one of my mother's cousins was surprised to find from her DNA results that she (and her brother) had about 6% African ancestry. After constructing her family tree she found that one of her mother's paternal great-great-grandfathers was Black and was born in Santo Domingo in 1779. He was in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and died at age 76 as a pensioner in Preston, Lancashire, England. So, although she has ~1/16 African DNA, she would not be eligible for reparation.
It's an interesting idea but it is a backwards-look and we have pressing problems that require forward thinking, climate change being one of them. Economic injustice being another. The proportion of the nation's wealth held by a tiny minority is terribly troubling.
I am thoroughly enjoying “Cheerfulness.“ It’s your best writing to date. Also, the podcast, though I play it at 1.25x speed. It makes you sound younger without reducing your wisdom.
So I'm a tenor now? Hmmm.
Will you be entertaining in the Caribbean in December? Will there be a cruise? What a good idea!
My wife and daughter and I will entertain each other. No more PHC cruises, unfortunately. We lost our friend at Holland America (he retired) and so the door is shut.
So sorry. They were so much fun!
They spoiled me for other cruises.
Aw, Gee Whiz! The one reason I enjoyed having a "well paying job" was that I could look forward to APHC Cruises once a year! As a "Lonely Little Democrat in a Republican Patch" it has been such a relief to be among like-minded folk. Sure, other shipboard entertainers might manage to stay on tune. But Where's the SPICE!? The World-View of the APHC entertainment crew has been consistently progressive, thoughtful and all-encompassing! Add to that, the fact that except for a few stranded spouses, most of us have similar, APHC Worldviews! I SO LOVED the discussion sessions and talks we were privileged to attend while aboard ship! It was as if we were in our own, private, considerate country, where wealth, power or position took aback seats to "Being "Good People!" It's as if we had been driving on back-country dirt roads all year. Then we got aboard the APHC Car Wash, and the whole world brightened up - became more hopeful! We'd go to the evening meal afterwards, and continue the discussions, with fervor, until we had to retire for the night!
They say platinum is a good catalyst. When it comes to Humans, I'd take GK In Person any day, as being far superior!
Well, dunno if you listen to GK but my humble opinion is you should, for many reasons but mostly as he is rational intelligent calm interesting & a huge relief to anyone crazy enough to try to listen to local or national "news"...
I just looked up the definition of "news"...
noteworthy information, especially about recent or important events
Now tell me how much of the crap you hear or see on broadcast media meet these simple criteria... yes I agree... virtually none...
GK mentions being an introvert, which I increasingly see being my political party of choice, & just about the only way I can insure myself of good company (autocorrect said compost instead of company, sometimes it's really smart). With apologies to many friends with whom I am always interested in leaning against the car & talking with.
An Introvert - Yes. As I understand it, it takes a lot of bravery for an "Introvert" to stand up on a stage and entertain others. Patching his scenario together - I get the picture of a boy belonging to an uncommon religious sect who was tortured mercilessly in his elementary school lunchroom - until he began sharing some made-on-the-spot fantasies. "Comedy as a self-defense mechanism!" And, as we've seen the results, he turned to writing, and found a grateful audience! And We're Still Grateful, GK! Being an Introvert is nothing to be ashamed of, when you can do as much with it as you've been able to accomplish!
Here, Here for Introverts!
Thank you for choosing to ask for help, in a dignified fashion, with your luggage and coffee. I hope you'll address the subject again. In 20 months I, too, will be 80, another product of midwestern culture that viewed as shameful asking for or accepting help. Now, as I struggle awkwardly and others offer, it's absurdly hard to say "Thank you! That's very kind," without bruising my conscience. Please help find the words that will make it easier and more graceful on myself and others. -- Carol, Falmouth, MA
I thought this was a masculine problem and now I see it's broader than that. I live in a NY co=op building with a number of doormen and they are very aggressive in taking charge of luggage and loading it into a taxi and there's no point in fighting with them. So I've crossed that line already. Keep at it. You can too.
Dear Mr. Keillor, My husband and I began listening to PHC in about 1980 from Eugene and have been faithful listeners, readers and attendants of your Oregon shows all these years, and as far as we are concerned You're the Top. But you are missing a wonderful treat by eschewing Caesar salad. It is not related to the Roman tyrant. "Caesar salad was invented in the early 1920s by Caesar Cardini, an Italian chef who owned a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. He moved to Tijuana from California to avoid Prohibition, and it was here, on July 4th, 1924, where Caesar is believed to have invented the Caesar Salad" To quote the succinct Google. - Pat Lambert
I admit that I've secretly enjoyed Caesar salads and now, thanks to you, I don't need to be secretive anymore.
I wish the poems and other writings you refer to in each post could be included with that post rather than as a separate file. I don't think I'm lazy, but I too am an octogenarian and even typing that word confuses me. I imagine there's some publication rule that limits where you put the material, but I always enjoyed reading those pieces and would like to have them easier to reach. Thanks.
Mr. K, your replies to the comments are as interesting as your stand up performances. At 80 you have aged fine. I am at 91 and sometimes I am tempted to act my age.
Hi Garrison, Re: Your Handel lyrics: My wife Angie is inclined toward lengthy goodbyes out at a visitor's car. It seems a prairie ritual when visitors were from the next sod house six miles down the trail, and your next visitors might be Comanches. I call it the Arkansas Farewell, but feel free to substitute any prairie territory. Roger Krenkler, LA
It's also a precaution, to accompany them to the car and say goodbye, to make sure they're leaving before yu hug them. If you hug them in the house, they might stay longer.
I think Susan was being literal when she said you have to scratch Minneapolis from your website profile. If you were raised in Minnesota there is no escape. I live in New Zealand but am still a Minnesotan. I used to try to run from this (literally, to the end of the world) but Minnesota kept grabbing me by the collar and reminding me that I am indeed a Minnesotan. Now I drown out the relentless rainstorms of Auckland 2023 by listening to YouTube audio of blizzards and winter winds. The dry scraping sound of snowflakes on windowpanes takes me back to the winters of Minnesota as a child. I don't actually want to be in MN to experience this again in person but find it a soothing alternative to this year's rain rain rain. New York does sound good Garrison. However, you don't have to choose. As I recall, you plan to be buried in rural MN, in the long distant future. You'll reside there a lot longer than you have in NYC. Just a thought.
Your mention of having had a fine elementary education reminded me that being deprived of an education was one of the most devastating losses that enslaved people suffered. I think that reparation should consist of enhanced educational opportunities for people (maybe including educational loan forgiveness) who can show that they had slave ancestors. It is not that difficult to determine what fraction of a person's ancestors were slaves from the results of a DNA test and the construction of a family tree. About 10 years ago, one of my mother's cousins was surprised to find from her DNA results that she (and her brother) had about 6% African ancestry. After constructing her family tree she found that one of her mother's paternal great-great-grandfathers was Black and was born in Santo Domingo in 1779. He was in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and died at age 76 as a pensioner in Preston, Lancashire, England. So, although she has ~1/16 African DNA, she would not be eligible for reparation.
It's an interesting idea but it is a backwards-look and we have pressing problems that require forward thinking, climate change being one of them. Economic injustice being another. The proportion of the nation's wealth held by a tiny minority is terribly troubling.
Scott is totally correct on all three points.