I love your writing. Approaching 75, and having sailed on all of your cruises but one, being from a small town, and being an English minor, I can relate to everything you write about. I am trying for cheerfulness.😊😁🙃
Thank you, Eileen. It's the age of gratitude, the period you and I are in, and I feel it every day. Tonight I take my niece out to console her upon turning 40 today.
I love the Jeremiah reference. Yes, be of good cheer... “All the apple trees came out in blossom Good Friday. It rained and got colder, but today is very bright with a pure sky. The willow is full of green. Things are all in bud... And in my heart, the deepest peace, Christ’s clarity, lucid and quiet and ever-present as eternity. On these big feasts you come out on top of a plateau in the spiritual life to get a new view of everything. Especially Easter. Easter is like what it will be entering eternity when you suddenly, peacefully, clearly recognize all your mistakes as well as all that you did well: everything falls into place.” Thomas Merton
I am a fogger of fig trees in Fargo. When I was young and spoke and acted like a child, I wanted to forego a middling life of respectability. Now I see clearly and know, even as I am known. I have forgone the fields of Fargo (and St. Paul) to fig those trees graceing the grounds of those hospitals in New Yuck.
Your usual stream of consciousness has become a raging torrent, no doubt a result of all the rain this past winter. Just wanted to take umbrage (check that word) with the comment about Republicans responding to "How Great Thou Art"---this recovering Baptist (40+ years fundy-free) and life-long 3rd generation Democrat not only can sing all the verses of that hymn but has also had "strength for today and bright hopes for tomorrow" from "Great is Thy Faithfulness" as his life-mantra, engraved on a bracelet and worn during my marathon-running days; I'm considering it as a tattoo. Thanks for still being around and relevant at 80 years---may you have that strength and those hopes! Blessed Easter to you!
You and me both, JC, but I love to sing a hymn with a Republican crowd. Looking forward to doing the South Dakota State Fair on Labor Day. I admire George McGovern for many things, including his memoir of his daughter, and for his sense of humor, and I forgive his enemies, just as he did.
The Merriam-Webster is online! According to an article on their web site, you and the New York Times are both correct, though the version that the NYT chose to use in their headline may be more concise: "Forego" has two possible definitions, while "forgo" only means one thing. "The lesson here is that forego implies something comes before something else as well as doing without something; however, forgo only means "to do without." In other words, if you "forego" or "forgo" dessert, you might not be satiated; if dessert "foregoes" dinner, you might be too full for dinner." (https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/usage-of-forego-vs-forgo). It's a fun article if one enjoys playing with their words... 😉
I tracked down the article, too - such a horrifying situation.
I love your words, all put together in some sort of stream of consciousness. I am close to 80 and my mind works that way, however putting pen to paper and making it sing, pure genius.
Hello Garrison… Just wanted to state how much I have been enjoying all of your columns. You have truly mastered your art as flow. You are ever expanding in the universe… in a good way.
Love from one of your biggest fans, metaphorically speaking,
A recent paid subscriber, I'd forgotten the sheer auditory (inner and actual) pleasure of your prose. Yours is the rare voice that speaks over my own from the text. Go for it!
Well, Fargo citizens get their water from a forgone well. That's why cashier checks from Wells Fargo are so well forged. (Forgive me if I'm confusing cause and effect.)
I’m glad you didn’t forgo Fargo, just a few feet of snow ago!
Your life is good. Carry on!
Better to burn out than it is to rust. - Neil Young
I love your writing. Approaching 75, and having sailed on all of your cruises but one, being from a small town, and being an English minor, I can relate to everything you write about. I am trying for cheerfulness.😊😁🙃
Thank you, Eileen. It's the age of gratitude, the period you and I are in, and I feel it every day. Tonight I take my niece out to console her upon turning 40 today.
I love the Jeremiah reference. Yes, be of good cheer... “All the apple trees came out in blossom Good Friday. It rained and got colder, but today is very bright with a pure sky. The willow is full of green. Things are all in bud... And in my heart, the deepest peace, Christ’s clarity, lucid and quiet and ever-present as eternity. On these big feasts you come out on top of a plateau in the spiritual life to get a new view of everything. Especially Easter. Easter is like what it will be entering eternity when you suddenly, peacefully, clearly recognize all your mistakes as well as all that you did well: everything falls into place.” Thomas Merton
I'll be at St. Michael's for Easter but am tempted to attend the quiet early service rather than the one with brass.
I am a fogger of fig trees in Fargo. When I was young and spoke and acted like a child, I wanted to forego a middling life of respectability. Now I see clearly and know, even as I am known. I have forgone the fields of Fargo (and St. Paul) to fig those trees graceing the grounds of those hospitals in New Yuck.
Yikes.
Make me happy to see someone following where there feet go. Where you go four will follow and I hope to be one!
Your usual stream of consciousness has become a raging torrent, no doubt a result of all the rain this past winter. Just wanted to take umbrage (check that word) with the comment about Republicans responding to "How Great Thou Art"---this recovering Baptist (40+ years fundy-free) and life-long 3rd generation Democrat not only can sing all the verses of that hymn but has also had "strength for today and bright hopes for tomorrow" from "Great is Thy Faithfulness" as his life-mantra, engraved on a bracelet and worn during my marathon-running days; I'm considering it as a tattoo. Thanks for still being around and relevant at 80 years---may you have that strength and those hopes! Blessed Easter to you!
You and me both, JC, but I love to sing a hymn with a Republican crowd. Looking forward to doing the South Dakota State Fair on Labor Day. I admire George McGovern for many things, including his memoir of his daughter, and for his sense of humor, and I forgive his enemies, just as he did.
Love this and I love you 🥰
The Merriam-Webster is online! According to an article on their web site, you and the New York Times are both correct, though the version that the NYT chose to use in their headline may be more concise: "Forego" has two possible definitions, while "forgo" only means one thing. "The lesson here is that forego implies something comes before something else as well as doing without something; however, forgo only means "to do without." In other words, if you "forego" or "forgo" dessert, you might not be satiated; if dessert "foregoes" dinner, you might be too full for dinner." (https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/usage-of-forego-vs-forgo). It's a fun article if one enjoys playing with their words... 😉
I tracked down the article, too - such a horrifying situation.
Thank you. You're a good teacher.
You're very welcome. I'm a mother, teaching is part of the package. 😊
"Be of good cheer." Not a bad daily goal, not bad at all.
I love your words, all put together in some sort of stream of consciousness. I am close to 80 and my mind works that way, however putting pen to paper and making it sing, pure genius.
Hello Garrison… Just wanted to state how much I have been enjoying all of your columns. You have truly mastered your art as flow. You are ever expanding in the universe… in a good way.
Love from one of your biggest fans, metaphorically speaking,
Aaron Levi
Your best column in six months! Thanks!
A recent paid subscriber, I'd forgotten the sheer auditory (inner and actual) pleasure of your prose. Yours is the rare voice that speaks over my own from the text. Go for it!
Well, Fargo citizens get their water from a forgone well. That's why cashier checks from Wells Fargo are so well forged. (Forgive me if I'm confusing cause and effect.)