Man contemplates miracle and is amazed We white hetero males have taken a steep dive and likely will be phased out in a few years, replaced by manufactured semen that is free of defects, and the gender balance will be adjusted to 90–10, women to men, making for a more peaceful and sensible world, with a few million WHMs kept around for heavy chores, a militia, basically a class of serfs with no legal rights, and women will look back at our era of WHM dominance as an absurd extension of the Middle Ages, though one hopes they’ll remember a few of us such as Michelangelo, Mozart, Abe Lincoln, Babe Ruth, that whole gang, and meanwhile, I myself, thanks to a cardiac procedure called ablation that didn’t exist when I was your age, have had my life extended by who knows how long, which goes against the trend of white hetero obsolescence, and how can I justify this miracle? I feel resurrected, but what to do with it? Did I win this privilege unfairly? Did I jump the line? I was dragging my feet, ready to enter retirement, dementia, and the nap in the dirt, but now apparently I am supposed to do something worthy of this amazing blessing. But what?
Go to Garrison Keillor and Friends on Substack to read the rest of THE COLUMN >>> Become a member of THE BACK ROOM on our Substack page for exclusive access to News from Lake Wobegon stories, archived goodies. excerpts from unpublished works, previews of other works, a second weekly column and on occasion, a full-length video stream of a show from 2015-2016. Also if you shop in the store, THE BACK ROOM subscribers receive 20% discounts. ($6 per mos or $65 annual subscription). |
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This week on "A Prairie Home Companion" A show that was performed live from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1996. It’s “The Family Band Show” — families who play music together, with The Forbes Family and The Steele Family. Highlights include “Joy, Joy, Joy,” plus The Steele Family tackles “Don’t Miss” and “The Real Love” while the Forbes Family croons “I Wonder’ and “ Bury Me.” Guy Noir makes and early appearance plus the full cast version of “Macbeth,” complete with sound effects and performed in 10 minutes. It’s a classic you do not want to miss! So, gather around your computer or smart phone and spend the next two hours of fun and frivolity with us. This plus the latest news from your favorite small town: Lake Wobegon. Join us Saturday for a listen via our Facebook page at 5 p.m. CT (or click the link below). Listen to the Show >>>
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More about this week’s featured guests For decades, The Forbes Family played together as a family band: Homer Forbes (vocals and banjo), Lisa Forbes Roberts (lead vocals), Lori Forbes Slate (vocals and bass), and Jay Forbes (vocals, guitar, and mandolin). They had heard music at home for years: their father and grandfather both played guitar and sang. And the kids began to sing in public when they were preschoolers. Homer, the eldest of the four siblings, started singing during church services at the age of four. So by the time the band started in 1977, the teenaged Forbes kids were already seasoned performers. After five years of performing around their home — near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — they moved to North Carolina and made a name for themselves in bluegrass gospel music. Their recordings include In the Shadow of Your Wings (Rebel Records). For this performance they were joined tonight by ace fiddler John Glick. “Lord Stay Near” >>> View available music >>>
As kids, The Steele Family started singing around their hometown of Gary, Indiana. Then called The Steele Children, they sang in churches, concert halls, and on radio and television across Indiana, and even opened for gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. One by one, they left the Hoosier State for Minnesota, and, just for fun, they started singing together again. Now their music is a family business. In 1983, the Steeles sang in Gospel at Colonus at the Guthrie Theater, a show that toured and ended up on Broadway in 1988. Various members of The Steeles can be heard on national commercials, movie soundtracks, recordings, and stages nationwide. Members of the family performing on this broadcast: J.D. Steele and his children, Jason and Courtney; Jearlyn Steele and her children, Venise and Michael Battle; Fred Steele and his children, Fred, Jr. and Telisha; and Jevetta Steele and her sons, Courtland and Kenyari Jackson.
“Steele Family documentary” >>>
View available music >>> |
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GARRISON KEILLOR and COMPANY The holidays bring about a great time to gather together with old friends and with that in mind, Garrison and company are hitting the road to sing a few holiday classics and share a few stories, limericks, and poetry. We hope you can come gather with us to celebrate the season! View the tour schedule >>
APHC Family Favorites on the Road:
The Steele Family Christmas Show: Celebrate the holidays with the Steeles as they perform a lively holiday set with the entire family. What started out at a Twin City annual favorite finally moves across the state of Minnesota! Here are the dates and locations of our 6 CHRISTMAS shows in MN:
--DECEMBER 3, 2021
SHELDON THEATER
443 West 3rd Street
Red Wing, MN 55066
--DECEMBER 4, 2021
PARAMOUNT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
913 W. Germain St.
St. Cloud, MN 56303
--DECEMBER 5, 2021
THEATRE L'HOMME DIEU is NOT winterized so, we are performing at the:
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (PAC) located in the Alexandria High School.
1410 McKay Avenue South
Alexandria, MN 56308
--DECEMBER 9, 2021
SHATTUCK-ST. MARY'S/NEWHALL AUDITORIUM
1000 Shumway Ave,
Faribault, MN 55021
--DECEMBER 10, 2021
HISTORIC HOLMES THEATER DETROIT LAKES
806 Summit Ave,
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
--DECEMBER 16, 2021
THE REIF CENTER-WILCOX THEATER
720 NW Conifer Dr,
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Christmas on the Prairie: A special holiday treat featuring Pat Donohue and members of the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band, along with Mary Jane Alm, Aimée Lee & Boyd Lee.
Plymouth Playhouse
Nov. 28th at 4 p.m.
link: https://plymouthplayhouseproductions.thundertix.com
Hastings Arts Center
Hastings, MN
Dec. 11th at 7 p.m.
link:https://www.hastingsartscenter.org/upcoming-concerts...
Pioneer Place on Fifth
Saint Cloud, MN
Dec. 16th at 7:30 p.m.
link: https://111rockpioneerplaceonfifth.thundertix.com
Chanhassen Dinner Theater, Fireside Theater
Chanhassen, MN
Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. & 8:15 p.m.
Dec. 23 at 8:15 p.m.
link: https://chanhassendt.com/shows/christmasontheprairie/
Joe Newberry & April Verch release On This Christmas Day to celebrate the holiday season:
The Newberry & Verch holiday album On This Christmas Day will be released on Dec. 3! Preorders have started! Order from April’s website, www.aprilverch.com and get the title track emailed to you immediately, plus take advantage of the limited-time offer to bundle your album with a gorgeous original linocut (also the cover art) by the talented Martha Kelly Art. The link to preorder / presave is https://lnk.to/christmasday. April and Joe are excited to share this music with you!
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Make America Intelligent Again Masks (set of 3) |
We teach our children to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing, so why not mask up in these trying times with an inspired message?
These washable, functional face masks feature an elastic ear loop that fits snugly but not too tightly. Order more to receive a lower price per mask. |
Get the masks >>> |
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Serenity at 70; Gaeity at 80 Serenity at 70, Gaiety at 80
Why you should keep on getting older
Created just for fans as a keepsake from Garrison and available only in our store, this wonderful gem on aging will have you laughing and contemplating your way into the next phase of life. Shipping begins at the end of November. Here is a short preview:
“My life is so good at 79 I wonder why I waited this long
to get here,” writes Mr. Keillor. “I look at the front page
of the paper and think, ‘Not My Problem.’ The world
belongs to the young, I am only a tourist, and I love being
a foreigner in America. I enjoy it as I would enjoy Paris or
Copenhagen, except I mostly know the language. I don’t
know who famous people are anymore and I’m okay with
that. You learn that Less Is More, the great lesson of
Jesus and also Buddha. Each day becomes important after
you pass the point of life expectancy. Big problems vanish,
small things make you happy. And the worst is behind you
because you lack the energy to be as foolish as you might
otherwise be.
“We arrive at old age by luck; virtue is not crucial. Luck
is crucial. If you took time to plan your life carefully,
you’d be 90 by the time you turn 25. So aim for adequacy.
Be good enough.”
Don’t miss the chapter of 23 rules for aging, including
“Enumerate your benefits,” “Enjoy inertia,” “Get out of
the way,” “Tell your likely survivors absolutely not to use
the words ‘A Celebration of Life’ (you already did that
yourself),” “Don’t fight with younger people; they will be
writing your obituary,” and finally, “Ignore rules you read
in a book. Do what you were going to do anyway.”
Also the Five Stages of Aging, for those who like
lists, and Mr. Keillor’s account of 24 hours in a New York
ER, in which he saw clearly his own good fortune and
also got an EEG and a lesson in contentment from Bob
the Buddhist. And a few poems for no extra charge:
Every day is a beautiful gift,
Tender and precious and swift.
The light and the sound,
The sky and the ground,
Every hour cries out to be lived.
Though I may be over the hill,
Still I think I can and I will.
I’ve forgotten just what
I can and will, but
They remain a goal of mine still.
Every year I pass the date
When my balloon shall deflate.
My mom entered heaven
At age ninety-seven,
And I aim to reach ninety-eight.
Get the book >>> |
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| The NEW Duct Tape Shirt Sponsored by the American Duct Tape Council as duct tape is the only tool you need at your disposal and this shirt humorously tells folks why. Gray cotton shirt is available in sizes S–XXL.
Get the Shirt >>>
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