This is so true. I have friends who hate their birthdays because they are getting older and I always say "um so what's the alternative?" Or when older people tell me not to get old. Again...sooo what is the alternative? lol. Thanks for celebrating life rather than fearing it!
I agree with your observations on age. I am 78 years old with a 48-year-old mind. I have yet to have a birthday, what people call milestones, I guess, that has bothered me. I have a 79-year-old friend we were discussing the situation and he said, my God Gene,I'll be 80 in a year! But he agreed with me and the fact is, not one yet that bothered us. I used to think, in my own mind, that I would live forever. But, then I think of the people that'll be going long before me and I don't wish that on anyone.
I grew up in ski country, serious granite mountains where at least 1/2 the people I knew skied regularly. I said to myself when young "I will never do that" and kept that promise. I did sled and snowball fight, but only went to the ski towns in summer, particularly when I could borrow my parents' neighbors condo near one of the resorts.
My high school added a couple of extra days off around President's Day. Most people went skiing. I stayed home drinking cocoa and reading. One year I went to visit a friend in LA and quite enjoyed days warm enough to swim in the pool and visiting Disneyland. My very slight suntan and photos of me in a bikini got me much envy, which as a teenage girl, was part of the point.
Thanks for the gratitude and good memories, including the laughter. I remember skiing down Whiteface Mt. in the Adirondacks at 22 and thinking, “I will never do this again.” A promise I too have kept.
My childhood best friend's wife died this past Saturday, the same day that you did your "Happy 83rd Birthday Show." I got word from my life-long friend in a text from the man I hadn't heard from in years that read, "Mark, Terri went to be with the Lord this morning . . . "
Terri was 68 when she "went to be with the Lord" . . . the same age as me. She and Darrell got married the same year that my bride, Karen, and I got married, just six months before us.
If we make it to September, Karen, who is 70, and I have tickets to see you do your Prairie Home Companion show in Sante Fe. Please hold on, Mr. Keillor, and we will try to do the same. And speaking of which, please have a well-timed intermission at that one.
I know this comment may seem slightly maudlin, and I'm not drunk, but you're right, "Life IS good," just as you said.
"Happy Actual Birthday!" to you tomorrow. We hope it's a fun one for you and your bride.
Happy belated Birthday, my friend! I can in good conscience call you my friend, although it’s been a very one-sided friendship, as you’ve been a close companion, advisor, lifter of my spirits, always good for a laugh, smile, chuckle, or sometimes a groan, everything a great friend should be! I’ve been that silent friend who merely listens, reads your words or talks about you behind your back (all good stuff I promise you) I’ve even watched you in person over the years, sometimes traveling partway across the country to say hello from an appropriate distance. My wife and I still listen to the old shows as we put together a puzzle. Speaking of friends, I met someone over 40 years ago because I was listening to your show every Saturday afternoon while working in my yard. The couple across the street finally came over to find out what was causing me to laugh out loud every Saturday afternoon, and we’ve been best friends ever since, so thanks for the introduction! My mom was an English major and so most of your shows ring true to me, and also spark my memories of her as she relentlessly corrected my choise of words and offered me perhaps a better alternative, which I hated as a child, but appreciate now! You can be the judge if her words had any lasting effect on me. She started listening to your show in the mid 70’s, while I was still living at home, and I must have picked up her love of things just slightly outside of the mainstream and I have watched you, listened to, and read your words ever since and feel that I have had a much richer life in many ways because of that history. So a warm and sincere Happy Birthday to you my old friend, and here’s to many more years of friendship ahead!
Dear Garrison, In these times of uncertainty, irrationality, and chaos without and physical challenges and changes within (I am a year plus a few weeks younger than you), reading your words or hearing your voice gives me so much pleasure and feelings of serenity, I use your posts as others use Xanax. Thank you for sharing the rare joy you have found. I feel blessed to have found you again after losing you for many years due to moving to a dusty little town in Mexico before the internet. A newsletter from Michael Moore alerted me to the fact that you were still active and available. Happy Birthday tomorrow. You have made my 80's much more bearable.
There is something about siblings singing that is wonderful…Paul just introduced me to Larkin Poe, two women with “balls” who make me grin from ear to ear…I know this is a strange term for girls but I’ve never found a better version, although Womanly Hips and Joan Osborne comes close. https://youtu.be/FQg1z3mKqHE?si=bLGyQJdShOg3bN6h
Maybe it just seem strange to brag about some things…like when you have really tiny, ‘whittle’, hands.
My wife and I were at the Saturday event that celebrated Garrison's birthday. A fine old gentleman and a pretty lady making great music together. I am 93 and my wife is 85 and we make good music together too. I am looking forward to you 85th birthday celebration. We will be there.
A song lyric with the word "crustacean" in it is a good way to start the day. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
OMG. So true. Anything with a crustacean in it is the best.
Lobster Quadril…
For example....
This is so true. I have friends who hate their birthdays because they are getting older and I always say "um so what's the alternative?" Or when older people tell me not to get old. Again...sooo what is the alternative? lol. Thanks for celebrating life rather than fearing it!
I agree with your observations on age. I am 78 years old with a 48-year-old mind. I have yet to have a birthday, what people call milestones, I guess, that has bothered me. I have a 79-year-old friend we were discussing the situation and he said, my God Gene,I'll be 80 in a year! But he agreed with me and the fact is, not one yet that bothered us. I used to think, in my own mind, that I would live forever. But, then I think of the people that'll be going long before me and I don't wish that on anyone.
This: "Maybe romance requires mystery, and intimacy is about intimations." Yes!
The Everly Brothers, Chet Atkins, Leo Kottke and you.
That line up takes my breath away.
☮️🎵☮️
I was only an obserrver, a journalist. Don and Phil loved Chet and Leo. Chet was the sort of guy they wanted to be and Leo was a true artist.
GK, the Good Lord should pop that DEL key right off your life.
Thanks for the perspective on the DEL key in my life.
Happy Birthday!
We were there Saturday night. Wonderful. Lots of memories. Thank you Garrison, Heather and all. Happy 83rd Birthday.
Great reading. Thank you!
Ageless wisdom. And the joy of getting older is we have a special understanding of how to use the DELETE button.
Yes! Best to let those happy little magnetic fields/electrons out to play! It’s not delete; it’s setting them free!
Well put, Ryan!
I totally agree with you about skiing! And I'm currently amassing a compendium of poems about growing old titled "The Art of Aging Disgracefully".
I grew up in ski country, serious granite mountains where at least 1/2 the people I knew skied regularly. I said to myself when young "I will never do that" and kept that promise. I did sled and snowball fight, but only went to the ski towns in summer, particularly when I could borrow my parents' neighbors condo near one of the resorts.
My high school added a couple of extra days off around President's Day. Most people went skiing. I stayed home drinking cocoa and reading. One year I went to visit a friend in LA and quite enjoyed days warm enough to swim in the pool and visiting Disneyland. My very slight suntan and photos of me in a bikini got me much envy, which as a teenage girl, was part of the point.
my husband was a beautiful skier but I told him before we married that I would never stand at the top of an icy hill with two strips of wood under me!
Thanks for the gratitude and good memories, including the laughter. I remember skiing down Whiteface Mt. in the Adirondacks at 22 and thinking, “I will never do this again.” A promise I too have kept.
My childhood best friend's wife died this past Saturday, the same day that you did your "Happy 83rd Birthday Show." I got word from my life-long friend in a text from the man I hadn't heard from in years that read, "Mark, Terri went to be with the Lord this morning . . . "
Terri was 68 when she "went to be with the Lord" . . . the same age as me. She and Darrell got married the same year that my bride, Karen, and I got married, just six months before us.
If we make it to September, Karen, who is 70, and I have tickets to see you do your Prairie Home Companion show in Sante Fe. Please hold on, Mr. Keillor, and we will try to do the same. And speaking of which, please have a well-timed intermission at that one.
I know this comment may seem slightly maudlin, and I'm not drunk, but you're right, "Life IS good," just as you said.
"Happy Actual Birthday!" to you tomorrow. We hope it's a fun one for you and your bride.
To Terri🍷
That's a very sweet gesture, Heidi. Thank you.
I ain't gonna lie. It's been a tough weekend. I wrote about it on my blog in a post that's entitled, "I Write Out Of Pain." https://themjkxn.substack.com/p/i-write-out-of-pain
Happy belated Birthday, my friend! I can in good conscience call you my friend, although it’s been a very one-sided friendship, as you’ve been a close companion, advisor, lifter of my spirits, always good for a laugh, smile, chuckle, or sometimes a groan, everything a great friend should be! I’ve been that silent friend who merely listens, reads your words or talks about you behind your back (all good stuff I promise you) I’ve even watched you in person over the years, sometimes traveling partway across the country to say hello from an appropriate distance. My wife and I still listen to the old shows as we put together a puzzle. Speaking of friends, I met someone over 40 years ago because I was listening to your show every Saturday afternoon while working in my yard. The couple across the street finally came over to find out what was causing me to laugh out loud every Saturday afternoon, and we’ve been best friends ever since, so thanks for the introduction! My mom was an English major and so most of your shows ring true to me, and also spark my memories of her as she relentlessly corrected my choise of words and offered me perhaps a better alternative, which I hated as a child, but appreciate now! You can be the judge if her words had any lasting effect on me. She started listening to your show in the mid 70’s, while I was still living at home, and I must have picked up her love of things just slightly outside of the mainstream and I have watched you, listened to, and read your words ever since and feel that I have had a much richer life in many ways because of that history. So a warm and sincere Happy Birthday to you my old friend, and here’s to many more years of friendship ahead!
Dear Garrison, In these times of uncertainty, irrationality, and chaos without and physical challenges and changes within (I am a year plus a few weeks younger than you), reading your words or hearing your voice gives me so much pleasure and feelings of serenity, I use your posts as others use Xanax. Thank you for sharing the rare joy you have found. I feel blessed to have found you again after losing you for many years due to moving to a dusty little town in Mexico before the internet. A newsletter from Michael Moore alerted me to the fact that you were still active and available. Happy Birthday tomorrow. You have made my 80's much more bearable.
There is something about siblings singing that is wonderful…Paul just introduced me to Larkin Poe, two women with “balls” who make me grin from ear to ear…I know this is a strange term for girls but I’ve never found a better version, although Womanly Hips and Joan Osborne comes close. https://youtu.be/FQg1z3mKqHE?si=bLGyQJdShOg3bN6h
Maybe it just seem strange to brag about some things…like when you have really tiny, ‘whittle’, hands.
Many women I know use "look at the ovaries on her!"
That works! ...although I have to note that these days many people, with or without ovaries are women. Times are changing...I do note!
My wife and I were at the Saturday event that celebrated Garrison's birthday. A fine old gentleman and a pretty lady making great music together. I am 93 and my wife is 85 and we make good music together too. I am looking forward to you 85th birthday celebration. We will be there.