"And when I considered other possible outcomes (O.P.O.), it was exhilarating" Thank you for that thought Garrison, way better than (It could have been worse).
I was put on a blood pressure medication that made me very dizzy. I was 77. While fly fishing I started to descend a steep bank toward the river to sneak a look into the river where trout often held.
The bank I started down became a vertical drop for about 12 feet to the water’s edge. I tripped. I went upside down diving down the vertical bank and landing on my right shoulder in soft sand that gave. My concern in the moment was my very delicate fly rod held in my left hand.
I stood, waded down stream to a place I could scale the bank and climbed out. My fly rod was fine. I wasn’t dizzy. In fact, I felt better than I could remember feeling. I think of it as my “spectacular fall!”
Thank you for this little note. I needed it today. I have a big disaster at work and it was my error that caused it. But you remind me of the things to apprecaite and that are important in the long run. I too woke up next to my beautiful wife this morning and I am relatively healthy and the sun is shining and the rest of my family is good too. Those are the important things to remind oneself of especially when the "shit hits the fan" at work and its all my fault. This too shall pass as the saying goes. Have a nice weekend.
I always found your affect somewhat flat and perfectly suited to your face whenever I listened to "A Prairie Home Companion" and, especially, when I actually saw you on television. But you made me laugh and feel good about myself and the world around us. What a gift! Thank you.
Love this. A while back had an MRI because I kept having phantom scents that would last for days and my doctor wanted to rule out a brain tumor. No tumor, but they never did figure it out. The MRI result noted that my brain was "unremarkable." In that context, I suppose that was good news, but I did think that my mother would beg to differ.
Some months ago I determined, deep in the recesses (not to mention excesses) of my indivisible and immortal soul, to read, from beginning to end, Immanual Kant's magnum opus, "The Critique of Pure Reason." It quickly became apparent to me that the only place I could do this and do justice to such a magnificent tome was while sitting on the "throne" (so to speak). "A man in his castle must have a throne to sit upon" I would sometimes proclaim to no one in general.
Some days while contemplating the subtle but important distinction between "pure" reason and "practical" reason I would find myself nodding, deep in a sort of reverie of philosophical "understanding" (so to speak). What the less philosophically minded might characterize as "sleep."
One day, apparently after several hours of such deep philosophical contemplation I was awakened from my reverie by my neighbor banging on the bathroom door. "Tom!, Tom, what the h*ll are you doiin' in there. bro? You've been sitting on the can for five hours! I've got to use the bathroom!"
Roused from my "dogmatic slumber" (so to speak; just as Kant himself was roused by the philosophical contemplations of David Hume) I harrumphed loudly, tidied up and exited "el banyo" proclaiming in an authoritative tone to my indignant neighbor, "I am contemplating the music of the spheres, my good man... why do you insist upon disturbing me?"
Upon which my neighbor proclaimed, "Yo, dude! You be one crazy dog, dude!" As he slammed the door on my face and proceeded to flush... . (My neighbor is what I refer to as a "two syllable man." That is he never uses prolex, confounding or confusing words that flummox the brain and tie up the tongue with more than two syllables.)
Alas and alack, such are the indignities of living in a rooming house with idle"television watchers" for neighbors.
Tell me, my good man. How do you get the tilde over the "n" on an American English keyboard? You seem to have accomplished it.
If you think this is "prolix" you might try limiting your reading material to "The Cat in the Hat"? Dr. Seuss had a way of being blunt and direct. And by all means, stay away from Edward Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" Wouldn't want to get flummoxed by all that "stuff" that happened before you were born which is when the real important "stuff" started to happen.
I wasn't calling your comment prolix, I was correcting your spelling of that word.
"ñ" is easy to produce on an Apple device, which is what I'm using. You just hold down the "n" button and alternatives arise, including "ņ," "ń," and "ň."
I refuse to discuss my falls, Keillor, too embarassing (and frightening!). But what a feeling, sitting in the hotel lobby, scanning the writing you'd done round midnight, as Thelonious Monk would say. Such an affirmation!
I was much moved by Garrison's latest thoughts, & as an 85 year old guy, they meant a lot. I have taken the liberty of passing his thoughts on to many of my friends & contemporaries, with the following introduction from me.
Neil Richards
Everybody who thinks they might have the opportunity to become an old fart, regardless of your current chronological, physical, mental, or psychological age (or sex)... Needs to read the following from the heart soliliquy from Garrison.
As our kids long ago told us, we need to live with that golden motto:
"Don't Do Anything Stupid!"
I'm proud that it's been over a year since I last had a fall, but my continual precarious balance state just about insures that another fall is probably inevitable... So ... Always be careful & learn how to fall!
I've always been a believer that happenstance has taken care of me. When I didn't know what I was supposed to do next, something or somebody came along to show me the way. Whether this has been through dumb luck, Heavenly guidance, or random chance... I have no idea... but I sure am grateful.
As Garrison says below:
"I've been waiting a long time to become as old as I am & it was well worth the wait." I also remember a sage observation from Willie Nelson: "I didn't ask to get this old. I jes did... & if you're lucky maybe you will too."
With love & thankfulness to all... But particularly to Garrison...
Garrison, Thanks to a recent podcast by Michael Moore, I discovered that I could once again listen to your wonderful, familiar voice with a subscription to "The Writer's Almanac." You were a treasured companion my university years in Seattle, as I somehow navigated 4 teenagers and 8 years of UW as an "older student," and then I lost you for years when I moved to central Mexico before the world wide web existed. And now I find we are both octogenarians, and for some reason, I find great comfort in thinking of you on your walks in New York and imagining that you are still somehow a companion. "Life is so enjoyable once you no longer need to be cool." Thank you. I hadn't realized that yet, and you have given me a great gift. Thank you for being you and for continuing to share yourself. You bring us joy!
I taught chemistry and math in a university for 32 years and loved having "older students" a.k.a. "returning students." They tended to be more coscientious than most of the 17-22-year-olds and more appreciative of the efforts I made to grade homework, quizzes and tests and return them promptly with answer sheets/explanations attached. (I was only 28 when I started teaching, so for several years I would sometimes even have students who were older than I was!)
Michele, I began uni on my 35th birthday, not as a returning student. I was very appreciated by my professors, many of whom were younger than I was, and I was so successful at being a student, I continued for 8 years, ultimately working on a Ph.D. As an older student, I had very different challenges from the younger ones just out of high school, but I had the advantage of feeling incredibly privileged and grateful to be there on a grant, which meant I was extremely motivated and focused.
I have to comment on that accounting error that you mentioned. I wasn’t gonna to but it just bothers me to have a former head of state being the butt of an internationally embracing joke. What other countries must think of the executive leadership of our beloved country. What do other countries think of the moral fiber of the leaders who lead the strongest nation of this world?
An accounting error is one thing. Who hasn’t made a math error or improper deduction on their tax return only to find out that the IRS won’t allow it and it needs to be corrected and the proper taxes need to be paid. Oh well, my mistake.
I get it, we’re all sinners in one way or another, but sins have consciences. We all have guilty pleasures, but some have more penance than others. This particular one is a black eye to so many that it can’t be measured. Denying something that is obviously true doesn’t make it better. Narcissism doesn’t care who gets hurt as long that it isn’t them.
I am 68 years old just fell yesterday and emerged unscathed, except my pride took a bit of a hit. What impressed me was the number of folks that rushed to my assistance (literally all four of the people in the general area who noticed it). That's two falls in the last two months that I have survived (the first was worse). I don't have balance problems, but I do have attention problems sometimes when I am walking and have a lot on my mind.
Several sentences that I loved. Thank you!
"And when I considered other possible outcomes (O.P.O.), it was exhilarating" Thank you for that thought Garrison, way better than (It could have been worse).
Thanks Garrison, again. rr
Hi Garrison,
I was put on a blood pressure medication that made me very dizzy. I was 77. While fly fishing I started to descend a steep bank toward the river to sneak a look into the river where trout often held.
The bank I started down became a vertical drop for about 12 feet to the water’s edge. I tripped. I went upside down diving down the vertical bank and landing on my right shoulder in soft sand that gave. My concern in the moment was my very delicate fly rod held in my left hand.
I stood, waded down stream to a place I could scale the bank and climbed out. My fly rod was fine. I wasn’t dizzy. In fact, I felt better than I could remember feeling. I think of it as my “spectacular fall!”
Danny Hoback
That wouldn't have been an Orvis bamboo fly casting rod from Vermont, would it? https://stores.orvis.com/us/vermont/manchester
It’s a 9’ 5 weight Sage One.
"My concern in the moment was my very delicate fly rod held in my left hand." Spoken like a true fly angler : )
Thank you for this little note. I needed it today. I have a big disaster at work and it was my error that caused it. But you remind me of the things to apprecaite and that are important in the long run. I too woke up next to my beautiful wife this morning and I am relatively healthy and the sun is shining and the rest of my family is good too. Those are the important things to remind oneself of especially when the "shit hits the fan" at work and its all my fault. This too shall pass as the saying goes. Have a nice weekend.
I always found your affect somewhat flat and perfectly suited to your face whenever I listened to "A Prairie Home Companion" and, especially, when I actually saw you on television. But you made me laugh and feel good about myself and the world around us. What a gift! Thank you.
“Life is so enjoyable once you no longer have to be cool”
The whole piece was excellent but you had me right there.
Same
Love this. A while back had an MRI because I kept having phantom scents that would last for days and my doctor wanted to rule out a brain tumor. No tumor, but they never did figure it out. The MRI result noted that my brain was "unremarkable." In that context, I suppose that was good news, but I did think that my mother would beg to differ.
Sounds like a mild case of olfactory tinnitus.
Some months ago I determined, deep in the recesses (not to mention excesses) of my indivisible and immortal soul, to read, from beginning to end, Immanual Kant's magnum opus, "The Critique of Pure Reason." It quickly became apparent to me that the only place I could do this and do justice to such a magnificent tome was while sitting on the "throne" (so to speak). "A man in his castle must have a throne to sit upon" I would sometimes proclaim to no one in general.
Some days while contemplating the subtle but important distinction between "pure" reason and "practical" reason I would find myself nodding, deep in a sort of reverie of philosophical "understanding" (so to speak). What the less philosophically minded might characterize as "sleep."
One day, apparently after several hours of such deep philosophical contemplation I was awakened from my reverie by my neighbor banging on the bathroom door. "Tom!, Tom, what the h*ll are you doiin' in there. bro? You've been sitting on the can for five hours! I've got to use the bathroom!"
Roused from my "dogmatic slumber" (so to speak; just as Kant himself was roused by the philosophical contemplations of David Hume) I harrumphed loudly, tidied up and exited "el banyo" proclaiming in an authoritative tone to my indignant neighbor, "I am contemplating the music of the spheres, my good man... why do you insist upon disturbing me?"
Upon which my neighbor proclaimed, "Yo, dude! You be one crazy dog, dude!" As he slammed the door on my face and proceeded to flush... . (My neighbor is what I refer to as a "two syllable man." That is he never uses prolex, confounding or confusing words that flummox the brain and tie up the tongue with more than two syllables.)
Alas and alack, such are the indignities of living in a rooming house with idle"television watchers" for neighbors.
*Immanuel
*baño
*prolix
Tell me, my good man. How do you get the tilde over the "n" on an American English keyboard? You seem to have accomplished it.
If you think this is "prolix" you might try limiting your reading material to "The Cat in the Hat"? Dr. Seuss had a way of being blunt and direct. And by all means, stay away from Edward Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" Wouldn't want to get flummoxed by all that "stuff" that happened before you were born which is when the real important "stuff" started to happen.
n~
I wasn't calling your comment prolix, I was correcting your spelling of that word.
"ñ" is easy to produce on an Apple device, which is what I'm using. You just hold down the "n" button and alternatives arise, including "ņ," "ń," and "ň."
I refuse to discuss my falls, Keillor, too embarassing (and frightening!). But what a feeling, sitting in the hotel lobby, scanning the writing you'd done round midnight, as Thelonious Monk would say. Such an affirmation!
Very funny and so well written. The wisdom is gravy. Thank you.
I was much moved by Garrison's latest thoughts, & as an 85 year old guy, they meant a lot. I have taken the liberty of passing his thoughts on to many of my friends & contemporaries, with the following introduction from me.
Neil Richards
Everybody who thinks they might have the opportunity to become an old fart, regardless of your current chronological, physical, mental, or psychological age (or sex)... Needs to read the following from the heart soliliquy from Garrison.
As our kids long ago told us, we need to live with that golden motto:
"Don't Do Anything Stupid!"
I'm proud that it's been over a year since I last had a fall, but my continual precarious balance state just about insures that another fall is probably inevitable... So ... Always be careful & learn how to fall!
I've always been a believer that happenstance has taken care of me. When I didn't know what I was supposed to do next, something or somebody came along to show me the way. Whether this has been through dumb luck, Heavenly guidance, or random chance... I have no idea... but I sure am grateful.
As Garrison says below:
"I've been waiting a long time to become as old as I am & it was well worth the wait." I also remember a sage observation from Willie Nelson: "I didn't ask to get this old. I jes did... & if you're lucky maybe you will too."
With love & thankfulness to all... But particularly to Garrison...
Garrison, Thanks to a recent podcast by Michael Moore, I discovered that I could once again listen to your wonderful, familiar voice with a subscription to "The Writer's Almanac." You were a treasured companion my university years in Seattle, as I somehow navigated 4 teenagers and 8 years of UW as an "older student," and then I lost you for years when I moved to central Mexico before the world wide web existed. And now I find we are both octogenarians, and for some reason, I find great comfort in thinking of you on your walks in New York and imagining that you are still somehow a companion. "Life is so enjoyable once you no longer need to be cool." Thank you. I hadn't realized that yet, and you have given me a great gift. Thank you for being you and for continuing to share yourself. You bring us joy!
I taught chemistry and math in a university for 32 years and loved having "older students" a.k.a. "returning students." They tended to be more coscientious than most of the 17-22-year-olds and more appreciative of the efforts I made to grade homework, quizzes and tests and return them promptly with answer sheets/explanations attached. (I was only 28 when I started teaching, so for several years I would sometimes even have students who were older than I was!)
Michele, I began uni on my 35th birthday, not as a returning student. I was very appreciated by my professors, many of whom were younger than I was, and I was so successful at being a student, I continued for 8 years, ultimately working on a Ph.D. As an older student, I had very different challenges from the younger ones just out of high school, but I had the advantage of feeling incredibly privileged and grateful to be there on a grant, which meant I was extremely motivated and focused.
I have to comment on that accounting error that you mentioned. I wasn’t gonna to but it just bothers me to have a former head of state being the butt of an internationally embracing joke. What other countries must think of the executive leadership of our beloved country. What do other countries think of the moral fiber of the leaders who lead the strongest nation of this world?
An accounting error is one thing. Who hasn’t made a math error or improper deduction on their tax return only to find out that the IRS won’t allow it and it needs to be corrected and the proper taxes need to be paid. Oh well, my mistake.
I get it, we’re all sinners in one way or another, but sins have consciences. We all have guilty pleasures, but some have more penance than others. This particular one is a black eye to so many that it can’t be measured. Denying something that is obviously true doesn’t make it better. Narcissism doesn’t care who gets hurt as long that it isn’t them.
Could that “flat affect” have been the indelible imprint of having grown up in Minnesota?
nah, he's autistic
I am 68 years old just fell yesterday and emerged unscathed, except my pride took a bit of a hit. What impressed me was the number of folks that rushed to my assistance (literally all four of the people in the general area who noticed it). That's two falls in the last two months that I have survived (the first was worse). I don't have balance problems, but I do have attention problems sometimes when I am walking and have a lot on my mind.