Democracy is almost all the entertainment a person can stand, no need to go to the opera or comedy clubs, and now the thought that a senator from West Virginia, which is to clean energy what California is to cauliflower or Virginia to virginity, will be writing the legislation aimed at curtailing greenhouse gases is a story that should be taken up in high school civics classes, to let young people, who will live in the country this old gent is legislating, know what a precarious business government is.
I think your “middleness” makes you miraculous. What you do on stage and what you write will be talked about for many years after you’re done. It is the freshness and kindness of your writing and actions on stage that makes you unique. I mean who but you could get away with the down home act and singing anthems and hymns to a multitude of people who sing with you is practically a miracle these days.
I wonder if you thought you were destined to be another Hemingway or Salinger. Their writing had more acclaim but I believe your writing will be more loved. You write about American Life in the great middle states of this great country. You depict it spot on. Mark Twain was a good writer and actor on stage but I would bet if he could have seen one of your shows he would have been impressed.
You are a lucky man to have lived such a wonderful life and to be the source of so much happiness. Thank you for your writings.
On thing that always impressed me about PHC was how Garrison could do about 40 live shows each year for about 30 years or whatever (I forget exactly how many) and have them be entertaining and interesting. He just walked out on stage and started talking, singing, etc. They were entertaining enough for the listeners to keep coming back. Few people could do that.
Garrison has brought happiness and good feelings to a lot of people. I don't think that Hemingway brought happiness and good feelings. I watched the Ken Burns series on Hemingway several times. I enjoyed the first part which deals with his youth but each part goes down hill -- that is it is more unpleasant. The last episode dealing with his old age is grim.
I loved reading Hemingway in high school, a heroic literary figure and his declarative style was certainly worth imitating. I had no urge to meet him. Then I picked up Updike's "The Centaur" and forgot about Hemingway. Updike is still a hero of mine, a writer who loved nothing more than to sit down to work in the morning.
Once on a radio program which I believe was PHC, it was said that the people in Lake Wobegon had accepted that they would never be rich or famous or powerful or beautiful or receive Nobel or other prizes. They were just ordinary people with ordinary lives who were free to get on with life without having to make "big" decisions. The fate of the world or America does not depend on what they decide or what they do. I thought that was a very good way to look at life.
Today, no one is going to call me about a "big" decision or for advice on how to govern the country. And that is great because I don't want to make any "big" decisions. I have thought about what I want to do today and it does not include thinking for someone else or saving the world. I hope that I spend most of the day doing things that I like to do.
I hope that Joe Manchin enjoys his fifteen minutes of fame. Alan Greenspan was thought to be a financial wizard until the recession of 2008/09 came along. Alan said that economic/financial markets were self correcting and that we did not need to worry; Lehman Bros. and other bankruptcies proved that is not true. Alan was a financial wizard until one day everyone realized that he was not. George W. is famous also. Dubya has the distinction of precipitating one of the great tragedies of American foreign/defense policy -- namely the invasion of Iraq in 2003. So much for worldly fame.
Each person has to look at his/her life. If you are happy with your life then get on with it. There are always a lot of people around who want to spend your time and your money. But tell them to waste their own time and their own money and leave you alone. If you are unhappy with life, you are the only one that can change it.
We are having beautiful Fall weather here this week. A good day to spend time outside and walk the dog. Said dog is always good company.
Hi Garrison, could you tell me the title/author of the backstage memoir by a dancer in New York City Ballet? As a former dancer I would love to take a look. Thanks!
That picture of the dog looking backwards reminds me of a story my Dad used to share with his cousin, Louis William. Dad's father and an uncle decided to spend their summer vacation driving around together in the West. Louis William, riding in his fathers Model T Ford, had a harrowing experience when they got close to Yosemite National Park. "During most of the T's production run, its 10 US gal (38 l; 8 imp gal) fuel tank was mounted to the frame beneath the front seat. Because Ford relied on gravity to feed fuel to the carburetor rather than a fuel pump, a Model T could not climb a steep hill when the fuel level was low." (Wikipedia) Louis William's father "solved" that problem by backing, 12 miles on a steep mountain road with hardly a straight section except one bridge, up to the entrance to Yosemite. Dad's family followed closely behind, probably as frightened by the sight as Louis William was.
I drove that road once, just to see how bad it was. It was Horrendous! I can hardly back into my garage in a straight line! I can't imagine Louis WIlliam's father getting his family up to the park alive!
In a way, that tale is an example of the way we go through life making gradual improvements. Motor vehicles must have seemed like "A Dream Come True" to folks who had previously had to rely on horses, donkeys, sled dogs , elephants, caribou or oxen to supply additional power for long journeys. In driving around Detroit, for example, the location of the gas tank probably wasn't too much of a problem. It was only when enthusiasts began tackling more challenging routes, that the need for a fuel pump was recognized. On the basis of that experience, Dad and Louis William really understood the meaning of "Necessity is the mother of invention!" I'm sure everyone in that travelling party was relieved that they were all still alive at the end of that day!
Depression is part of my brain's machinery, but I've managed to survive almost 61 years so far (knocking on that wood until the house falls down!). I've been very lucky as well, since I've been married to a wonderfully patient and loving man for almost 40 years. It isn't easy being married to someone who becomes terribly sad for no apparent reason, but he takes good care of me. You have been a big help, too, as your books and radio show help keep my spirits up. I suspect you help many of us find enjoyment in living. Thank you for your kindness and infectious cheer!
I appreciate your humbleness Mr Keillor. You are about as different from our previous president as one can be. I am 100% sure that no one ever accused him of being humble. If you are middleness then you must have milked every drop of talent out of yourself to get to the place of reverence you have attained to so many people. You definitely have something beyond Middleness in your ability to organize and put a show together that is heartfelt and loved by many thousands with me being one of them. You also bring a little literary teaching to real middleness people like me. I thought I was done with literature when I graduated from high school but here you are teaching and reteaching ordinary folks like me to more appreciate such things. I think it makes us better people for it though it's one of those intangible things.
I have always appreciated your political observations, not only because I agree with you most of the time, but because you succinctly and quoteably capture what I still believe most reasonable Americans would think, if we took the time to. Back when Paul Wellstone was killed, you delivered a beautiful eulogy on PHC, the feeling of which I have never forgotten (I remember exactly where we were in the car while listening) but the words of which I can't remember. I would deeply appreciate you posting it sometime.
I think your “middleness” makes you miraculous. What you do on stage and what you write will be talked about for many years after you’re done. It is the freshness and kindness of your writing and actions on stage that makes you unique. I mean who but you could get away with the down home act and singing anthems and hymns to a multitude of people who sing with you is practically a miracle these days.
I wonder if you thought you were destined to be another Hemingway or Salinger. Their writing had more acclaim but I believe your writing will be more loved. You write about American Life in the great middle states of this great country. You depict it spot on. Mark Twain was a good writer and actor on stage but I would bet if he could have seen one of your shows he would have been impressed.
You are a lucky man to have lived such a wonderful life and to be the source of so much happiness. Thank you for your writings.
On thing that always impressed me about PHC was how Garrison could do about 40 live shows each year for about 30 years or whatever (I forget exactly how many) and have them be entertaining and interesting. He just walked out on stage and started talking, singing, etc. They were entertaining enough for the listeners to keep coming back. Few people could do that.
Garrison has brought happiness and good feelings to a lot of people. I don't think that Hemingway brought happiness and good feelings. I watched the Ken Burns series on Hemingway several times. I enjoyed the first part which deals with his youth but each part goes down hill -- that is it is more unpleasant. The last episode dealing with his old age is grim.
Best wishes.
I loved reading Hemingway in high school, a heroic literary figure and his declarative style was certainly worth imitating. I had no urge to meet him. Then I picked up Updike's "The Centaur" and forgot about Hemingway. Updike is still a hero of mine, a writer who loved nothing more than to sit down to work in the morning.
Beautifully said!
Once on a radio program which I believe was PHC, it was said that the people in Lake Wobegon had accepted that they would never be rich or famous or powerful or beautiful or receive Nobel or other prizes. They were just ordinary people with ordinary lives who were free to get on with life without having to make "big" decisions. The fate of the world or America does not depend on what they decide or what they do. I thought that was a very good way to look at life.
Today, no one is going to call me about a "big" decision or for advice on how to govern the country. And that is great because I don't want to make any "big" decisions. I have thought about what I want to do today and it does not include thinking for someone else or saving the world. I hope that I spend most of the day doing things that I like to do.
I hope that Joe Manchin enjoys his fifteen minutes of fame. Alan Greenspan was thought to be a financial wizard until the recession of 2008/09 came along. Alan said that economic/financial markets were self correcting and that we did not need to worry; Lehman Bros. and other bankruptcies proved that is not true. Alan was a financial wizard until one day everyone realized that he was not. George W. is famous also. Dubya has the distinction of precipitating one of the great tragedies of American foreign/defense policy -- namely the invasion of Iraq in 2003. So much for worldly fame.
Each person has to look at his/her life. If you are happy with your life then get on with it. There are always a lot of people around who want to spend your time and your money. But tell them to waste their own time and their own money and leave you alone. If you are unhappy with life, you are the only one that can change it.
We are having beautiful Fall weather here this week. A good day to spend time outside and walk the dog. Said dog is always good company.
Best wishes to one and all.
Yup! Your happiness is up to you. Be true to yourself and do what works for you.
Wow! That first sentence is a long one.
Hi Garrison, could you tell me the title/author of the backstage memoir by a dancer in New York City Ballet? As a former dancer I would love to take a look. Thanks!
I've forgotten her name but she was at City Ballet and I didn't finish the book.
Bravo!
That picture of the dog looking backwards reminds me of a story my Dad used to share with his cousin, Louis William. Dad's father and an uncle decided to spend their summer vacation driving around together in the West. Louis William, riding in his fathers Model T Ford, had a harrowing experience when they got close to Yosemite National Park. "During most of the T's production run, its 10 US gal (38 l; 8 imp gal) fuel tank was mounted to the frame beneath the front seat. Because Ford relied on gravity to feed fuel to the carburetor rather than a fuel pump, a Model T could not climb a steep hill when the fuel level was low." (Wikipedia) Louis William's father "solved" that problem by backing, 12 miles on a steep mountain road with hardly a straight section except one bridge, up to the entrance to Yosemite. Dad's family followed closely behind, probably as frightened by the sight as Louis William was.
I drove that road once, just to see how bad it was. It was Horrendous! I can hardly back into my garage in a straight line! I can't imagine Louis WIlliam's father getting his family up to the park alive!
In a way, that tale is an example of the way we go through life making gradual improvements. Motor vehicles must have seemed like "A Dream Come True" to folks who had previously had to rely on horses, donkeys, sled dogs , elephants, caribou or oxen to supply additional power for long journeys. In driving around Detroit, for example, the location of the gas tank probably wasn't too much of a problem. It was only when enthusiasts began tackling more challenging routes, that the need for a fuel pump was recognized. On the basis of that experience, Dad and Louis William really understood the meaning of "Necessity is the mother of invention!" I'm sure everyone in that travelling party was relieved that they were all still alive at the end of that day!
Depression is part of my brain's machinery, but I've managed to survive almost 61 years so far (knocking on that wood until the house falls down!). I've been very lucky as well, since I've been married to a wonderfully patient and loving man for almost 40 years. It isn't easy being married to someone who becomes terribly sad for no apparent reason, but he takes good care of me. You have been a big help, too, as your books and radio show help keep my spirits up. I suspect you help many of us find enjoyment in living. Thank you for your kindness and infectious cheer!
I appreciate your humbleness Mr Keillor. You are about as different from our previous president as one can be. I am 100% sure that no one ever accused him of being humble. If you are middleness then you must have milked every drop of talent out of yourself to get to the place of reverence you have attained to so many people. You definitely have something beyond Middleness in your ability to organize and put a show together that is heartfelt and loved by many thousands with me being one of them. You also bring a little literary teaching to real middleness people like me. I thought I was done with literature when I graduated from high school but here you are teaching and reteaching ordinary folks like me to more appreciate such things. I think it makes us better people for it though it's one of those intangible things.
Terry in NC.
I have always appreciated your political observations, not only because I agree with you most of the time, but because you succinctly and quoteably capture what I still believe most reasonable Americans would think, if we took the time to. Back when Paul Wellstone was killed, you delivered a beautiful eulogy on PHC, the feeling of which I have never forgotten (I remember exactly where we were in the car while listening) but the words of which I can't remember. I would deeply appreciate you posting it sometime.