Ah, memories, it’s a bit lIke, ‘Why do always find it the last place I look.’ Coffee cups and my wife…oh and glasses. I’m not as old as you but I find the memories charming…I smile, people ask why? I say, “I was just remembering by junior high best friend’s phone number…I should call.” We had lost track of each other thirty or forty years ago and I thought, what the hell!
I called, his Dad answered and through his own challenges he remembered me. I asked, ‘Do you ever see Wes?’ He said, “Sure, He’s right here, Want to talk to him?” We chatted, he had returned home for cancer treatment, he died a few months after…we chatted a few times, and many smiles at how silly we were…boys…learning to smoke!
My husband has been diagnosed with vascular dementia-I can relate to your wife’s concern. We have been married 46 years-he is, and remains the best thing that ever happened to me and my hero. I am a better human being because of him.
It is heartbreaking to watch his cognitive function deteriorate-a cruel way for anyone to go out. But I am determined he knows he is loved and safe so if he ever crosses that rubicon and doesn’t recognize me anymore, if I walk into the room and he sees me he will somehow know, deep down, everything is going to be alright. And he will smile.
Oh you help us remember the wonderful parts of our lives. The really good stuff that we wish for today. It was great to have experienced it. Thank you Garrison, it takes our minds away from the chaos that is in our country now.
My clarinet teacher in high school, John Chapman, was a professional jazz saxophonist and I think he was a frustrated stand-up comedian. I looked forward to my lesson every week because he was a cool old guy (early 40s, but several years older than my parents, so he seemed old to me) who told lots of jokes and funny stories about his experiences as a musician. I know he drank a lot and smoked cigarettes, and I suspected he did some illegal things as well, even though it was only the mid-1960s. Every week we had at least one good laugh and I always went back to my regular classes feeling better than I had earlier in the day.
The l band’s sousaphone was stored in the back corner of the practice room where we had our instrumental music lessons. One day he was munching on M&Ms Fruit Chewies as I was playing the piece I had practiced that week for him. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him ball up one of the wrappers and toss it over his shoulder into the bell of the sousaphone. I spit out the clarinet mouthpiece and wasn’t able play for several minutes because I couldn’t stop laughing.
I'll be 90 next April; my cake will be carmelized! I've been listening to you since the 1980s off and on, even saw you once in person in Indianapolis. You almost always touch deep feelings were your ruminations and I'm able to cry or laugh and feel more alive! Thank you!
Ah, memories, it’s a bit lIke, ‘Why do always find it the last place I look.’ Coffee cups and my wife…oh and glasses. I’m not as old as you but I find the memories charming…I smile, people ask why? I say, “I was just remembering by junior high best friend’s phone number…I should call.” We had lost track of each other thirty or forty years ago and I thought, what the hell!
I called, his Dad answered and through his own challenges he remembered me. I asked, ‘Do you ever see Wes?’ He said, “Sure, He’s right here, Want to talk to him?” We chatted, he had returned home for cancer treatment, he died a few months after…we chatted a few times, and many smiles at how silly we were…boys…learning to smoke!
The last place I look…
Wonderful, funny, so true- as always! I have three GK books out of the library right now… a good combination of past and present Garrison writing 😏
I think I have about 20 of them, including 2 or 3 with his autograph in them!
My husband has been diagnosed with vascular dementia-I can relate to your wife’s concern. We have been married 46 years-he is, and remains the best thing that ever happened to me and my hero. I am a better human being because of him.
It is heartbreaking to watch his cognitive function deteriorate-a cruel way for anyone to go out. But I am determined he knows he is loved and safe so if he ever crosses that rubicon and doesn’t recognize me anymore, if I walk into the room and he sees me he will somehow know, deep down, everything is going to be alright. And he will smile.
My Dad has that too.
We enjoy listening to Garrison Keillor.
Oh you help us remember the wonderful parts of our lives. The really good stuff that we wish for today. It was great to have experienced it. Thank you Garrison, it takes our minds away from the chaos that is in our country now.
My clarinet teacher in high school, John Chapman, was a professional jazz saxophonist and I think he was a frustrated stand-up comedian. I looked forward to my lesson every week because he was a cool old guy (early 40s, but several years older than my parents, so he seemed old to me) who told lots of jokes and funny stories about his experiences as a musician. I know he drank a lot and smoked cigarettes, and I suspected he did some illegal things as well, even though it was only the mid-1960s. Every week we had at least one good laugh and I always went back to my regular classes feeling better than I had earlier in the day.
The l band’s sousaphone was stored in the back corner of the practice room where we had our instrumental music lessons. One day he was munching on M&Ms Fruit Chewies as I was playing the piece I had practiced that week for him. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him ball up one of the wrappers and toss it over his shoulder into the bell of the sousaphone. I spit out the clarinet mouthpiece and wasn’t able play for several minutes because I couldn’t stop laughing.
"Life is good, especially if you use the delete key". Words of wisdom.
I'll be 90 next April; my cake will be carmelized! I've been listening to you since the 1980s off and on, even saw you once in person in Indianapolis. You almost always touch deep feelings were your ruminations and I'm able to cry or laugh and feel more alive! Thank you!
Love the way you circled the back to your original premise about handwriting versus typing on the keyboard. Bravo's once again Mr K!
Garrison, you will not be forgotten- a blessing for today, thank you.