Post to the Host

GK,

I think newspapers are becoming obsolete. Our news sources are online, and we receive updates by the minute, which I’ve been doing with the current conflict between Israel and the Hamas. By the time a newspaper is printed, it’s old news. Do you think we still need printed newspapers or is it time to put them to bed?

Douglas Masterson

New York

For us older readers, the print newspaper gives us a better idea of the contents, we can quickly scan the pages and find what interests us, whereas searching on the laptop screen is laborious and searching the smartphone is a real chore. As we die off, print may disappear. But objective journalism, researched, fact-checked, will become ever more important. Opinion essays can be highly entertaining, sometimes informative, but a person does need to know what exactly was said and done and by whom. GK

Hi. I was very excited to see there is A Prairie Home Companion show touring this/next year. However, I see all of the locations are on the east coast. Are there plans to bring the show to the West Coast? 

Jodi Hassell

We’re working on it, Jodi. Meanwhile:

I’m fond of a listener named Jodi, Who wrote me: “You’re like Don Quixote. You go anywhere Except when I’m there,” So she joined the show as a roadie

GK

Dear Garrison,

Several fans offered WLT — A Radio Romanceas their favorite GK novel. I like this novel, especially since it brings back the lost world of radio as a live, analog, communal experience. That said, I’d like to offer Pontoon as the best GK novel, and one of the best comic novels ever. Charlie Chaplin had a sign on his desk: “If you’re doing something funny, you don’t have to be funny doing it.” The author weaves an inspired tale of deadpan absurdity and puts it across as an act of straight reportage. Everything builds and pays off. It’s a magic trick, a watch that laughs, and like all the great ones, gets better with repeat readings. 

R. Lee Procter 

That’s the most generous review I’ve gotten in years. Thanks. Someone sent me a rather rocky review of the latest, Cheerfulness, and this makes up for that. I never read reviews back in the old days — it felt as if the critic was under the influence of something that’d happened to him or her while reading the book, an evening at the ballet, a migraine, a marriage proposal, bad hemorrhoids ­­— and now there are no reviews to read. It’s 2 p.m. as I read yours and I was going to quit work for the day but now I guess I’ll keep working. GK

Dear Mr. GK,

It has been years since we have had a visit from you here in the PNW (Portland or Seattle), so it has been a long dry spell for us. However, you got me excited when you mentioned in the latest Post to the Host that you might consider a streaming video. Even at 80 years old, I can make that work, and surely Jason could engineer that for us. I would certainly pay to view that!!

David Beck

Work is underway on various things that they don’t tell me about for fear I’ll cancel them out of hand. We shall see what develops. GK

Dear Garrison,

Excuse my using your first name as we have never met. I feel as though I know you because I have listened to your voice, which I love, since 1974 when I first heard it.

I have read your books, articles, and newsletters as well.

I felt compelled to tell you that when the “thing” happened in my beloved home state of Minnesota I felt shocked, appalled and betrayed. Not at all by you but by those who chose to act as if they had some secret insight to goings-on inside the minds of others. In doing so robbing me and others of one of the most precious assets of our lives — A Prairie Home Companion. I have missed it very much over the years.

Why am I writing this now? Well, time is running out for some of us, and I haven’t written it before because I figured most people don’t care what their unknown fans have to say. I care, so I decided to go ahead and say it.

I feel very grateful for the ability to still hear your voice on your podcast and to read your newsletters and The Writer’s Almanac. You have been a gift in my life that I will always cherish.

Thank you,
Kristina

It was a sucker punch, Kristina, and I’ve thought over and over about what I should’ve done — should’ve called a press conference, named the anonymous accusers, denied the wrongdoing, and left the ball in their court, but I didn’t. The dumbest thing I ever did was to quit the show in 1987 and move to Denmark — pure insanity — and the second dumbest was retiring in 2016 and the third dumbest was not blowing up the shakedown, but it’s all water over the spillway now, and I feel that 81 is the best time of my life. But I’m so sorry I let you and other people down. I am truly sorry. GK

GK,

Cielito Lindo: Hermeneutical Phenomenology Limerick song Ai, Ai Ya Yai, Hermeneutical Phenomenology’s confusing It’s very demanding. I’ve no understanding, but here is a song on it now. Phenomenology Hermeneutical Is a study entirely Futicle Such a waste of your brain Can cause lingering pain. You’ll turn totally gray, if hirsutical. Ai, Ai Ya Yai, Phenomeneutical Hermenology’s confusing So sing me another one Worse than the other one. Here is another one now. Phenomenology Hermeneutical May have uses completely reputable. But for mental confusion, Headache and contusions; You’ll need counseling help therapeutical. Ai, Ai Ya Yai, Cockadoodical Chickenology’s confusing So sing me another one Worse than the other one. Here is the last of ’em now. Biologists master Biology Ophthalmologists know their Eyeballogy Only Heidegger’s buddies Include in their studies Hermeneutical Phenomenology Ai, Ai Ya Yai, Hermeneutical Phenomenology’s confusing My song makes no sense, but please take no offense, it’s the best I can do for you now.

Jim Katz

I like it, especially the Biology/Eyeballogy. That’s pure inspiration. GK

Garrison,

I read last week of your interest, if not enthusiasm, to return to Minnesota around the 50th anniversary of PHC. I was not at the first performance because that was the day of the birth of our eldest (hence, I have been able to remember that date over these many years).

What about a performance at the Ordway? The smaller venue there — built especially for the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra — would be ideal. And July 6, 2023, is a Saturday ... the perfect 50th anniversary location!

Always an admirer,

John Riehle

We’ve been discussing the Ordway, and also the O’Shaughnessy and the Palace, but we’ll find a place for sure. GK

Hi, Garrison.

Interesting, isn’t it? If liver is so great to eat, why did parents/grandparents employ various tactics to induce kids to eat it? You were subjected to the “guilt” modality — the old “starving children” tactic. My grandmother favored a more devious approach — she said she was making the “special steak.” (One bite was all I needed — “That’s not steak! That’s LIVER!) My cousin summed it up nicely; he said it was like biting down on a piece of aluminum foil. YUCK.

Bon appétit!
Patricia McCormack

I’m sorry your cousin forgot to remove the tinfoil from the liver, but anyway we’re over it now and none the worse for wear that I can see. I’ve had a few ears of hot corn on the cob this summer, some extraordinary tomatoes, several Dairy Queen Butterfinger Blizzards, a serving of tuna hotdish, and now I’m hoping I can find a few sloppy joes. GK

Garrison,

As well you know, we are stoic Norwegians; our Lutheran upbringing encourages suffrage and penance. But also, we are good and kind and not complicated. One can hang their hat on someone from Minnesota and it will be well placed.

I hope all is well in your world.

My best,
Heidi (Anderson) Emanuel
Frayne’s daughter 

All is well, I believe. I miss St. Paul and our big house there, a great place for parties, but I’m now a confirmed New York apartment dweller, sitting at a big desk between the LR and the kitchen, working on a book called Brisk Verse and on a musical, and my wife is happy and rambling around town, and the great Sam Bush is coming to do a concert near us, and life is good. GK

Dear Garrison,

Permit me to cite another example of the reticence of residents of the state where you and I both once lived. I once sang in the Calvin Alumni Choir and we performed Voices of Light by the eminent composer Stephen Paulus, a lifelong resident of the Twin Cities. He was present at the performance. It is an exceptionally beautiful setting of texts by a 13^th century woman mystic, scored for 8-part chorus, strings, and percussion. After the performance, he met the choir in a rehearsal room and expressed his appreciation.

“I’ve heard worse,” he said. “That’s how we compliment performers in Minnesota.” 

“I’ll go farther and give you the highest compliment you will ever hear from a Minnesotan: A lot worse.”

David Hoekema

He nailed it. There it is in three words. That’s exactly how I feel about my novel Pontoon and this book I’m writing now, Brisk Verse. I’ve done worse. GK

Sir,

I must admit, while I am a big fan of your humor and writing, and like you (I think), I can be friends with people with different opinions, I was most surprised by your most recent writing, where you say, “and a commanding majority of Republican voters seem prepared to vote happily for a convicted felon to be President of the United States, should it come to that.” Seriously Garrison?? I am not aware to date that former President Trump has been CONVICTED of anything, let alone a felony. And you Garrison, of all people, should appreciate the power of false accusations and misinformation in the media. Shame on you!

R

The key phrase, R, is “should it come to that.” Most of the current candidates for the Republican nomination, like most Republican voters, say they will vote for the man even if he is convicted in a court of law. GK

Mr. Keillor,

I don’t know why you continue to have such awful thoughts about the Republicans and my President, Donald Trump. When Trump becomes our President again, you will see that all of these conflicts around the world will go away. He’s the only one who can bring the world together again.

Sincerely,

Patty Saunders

Time will tell, my dear. Meanwhile, for your sake, I hope that if he is convicted of tax fraud, election fraud, violation of national security, insurrection, whatever, that he makes a clean breast of it to his loyal following and doesn’t keep them chained to a series of lies. GK

Just announced! Chuck Mead and His Grassy Knoll Boys will be on the roster on both of our 50th Anniversary shows in Nashville and Manhattan, Kansas. 

They will be joining Heather Masse, Christine DiGiallonardo, Sue Scott, Tim Russell, Fred Newman and our very hot band, Rich Dworsky, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton and Mike Elizondo. 

CLICK HERE for tickets.