Personal expressions of the world around us through text, sight and sound.


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50 articles found.

SUMMARY VIEW  Expanded details within a Category. Click on article title, Category, or a listed Topic

To change sort order or make another search, modify the form above

Aging, General

 1 record found

Suddendly It's Clear Why I Want to Be Old by Garrison Keillor


(September 29, 2022)
The air is golden, smelling of wine and apples and woodsmoke. It takes me back…
Topics: Attitudes Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Hopes & Dreams Memories Optimal Aging Relationships



Arts & Entertainment

 3 records found

The Story Teller Hits the Road by Garrison Keillor


(November 20, 2025)
I am off to LaGuardia to go on tour for ten days with my solo stand-up show telling stories and not a single word about the Emperor and His Court of Cronie…
Topics: Arts & Entertainment Communication Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Humor Optimal Aging


A Bad Play Let's You See You Have a Good Day by Garrison Keillor


(June 8, 2023)
Walking out of the theater, I thought to myself, “I could write a better play than that,” and maybe I will…
Topics: Arts & Entertainment Contentment, Satsifaction Drama Memories Optimal Aging Writing


The Future of Escapism As I See It by Garrison Keillor


(January 27, 2022)
The new Las Vegas should be in Minnesota…
Topics: Contentment, Satsifaction Future Leisure Lifestyle, General Popular Culture Travel



Communication

 2 records found

Living the Present, a Day at a Time by Garrison Keillor


(February 6, 2025)
I remember a day fifty years ago when I had lunch with my hero S.J. Perelman in Minneapolis when he was to give a reading and I was to introduce him. I was stunned by admiration for his writing…
Topics: Communication Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Humor Optimal Aging Wisdom Writing


In Georgia, Taking Shelter from the Storm by Garrison Keillor


(February 3, 2022)
The beauty of small talk…
Topics: Circumstances, Life Events Communication Contentment, Satsifaction Language, Meaning Relationships Travel



Faith, Religion & Spirituality

 2 records found

Walking to Church on a Cold Day by Garrison Keillor


(November 28, 2024)
We live in troubled times but perhaps there needs to be a time-out from trouble and maybe I'll make it Sunday. Put the worries of this life aside…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Faith Gratitute Holidays Holiday Season Thanks, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving Worship


Thankful for What Hasn't Changed by George Garrison


(November 26, 2020)
Being thankful in all circumstances…
Topics: Beliefs Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Faith Holidays Holiday Season Inspiration Thanks, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving



General

 9 records found

It's Never Too Late to be Normal by Garrison Keillor


(January 11, 2025)
As I proceed through my eighties, I go back to a Minnesota point of view: life is complicated, take it one day at a time, the urge to be top dog is not a useful ambition, be grateful for what you have and learn to cherish your portion…
Topics: Attitudes Beliefs Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Humor Optimal Aging


Walking a Crowded Street in Gratitude by Garrison Keillor


(November 24, 2022)
I walk down upper Broadway and it's very amiable, like the Minnesota State Fair, throngs of people, the smell of pizza and hot pretzels in the air, bursts of music in passing, a general civility…
Topics: Attitudes Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Gratitute Holiday Season Lifestyle, General Thanks, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving


A Weekend in the Wilds of Connecticut by Garrison Keillor


(June 24, 2022)
I have seen some of the future lately and I must admit it’s very appealing to me…
Topics: Communication Contentment, Satsifaction Family Travel


Blessed Are the Meek for They Shall Inheirit a Shirt by Garrison Keillor


(June 17, 2022)
I sat down in a café and enjoyed a croissant. The waiter offered to refill my coffee cup. This is the sort of kindness an old dog takes sustenance from…
Topics: Attitudes Beliefs Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Grace Gratitute Lifestyle, General Optimal Aging


The Meaning of Life as it Dawned on Me the Other Night by Garrison Keillor


(June 10, 2022)
. . . nonetheless we are independent individuals and we can discern what is true, what is noble and right, what is lovely and admirable and to think on these things…
Topics: Attitudes Circumstances, Life Events Contentment, Satsifaction Optimal Aging Relationships


There are 4 more items for the category General and the Contentment, Satsifaction topic...See the whole list


Health & Wellness

 1 record found

One Favor, Lord, if You Have a Moemnt by Garrison Keillor


(August 14, 2025)
I ask a favor of God, that I not die a dumb death. Let me leave in dignity, please…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Humor Optimal Aging Wellness



History

 1 record found

An Idea, Probably Wrong, but It is an Idea by Garrison Keillor


(November 10, 2022)
I’m not nostalgic for those days long passed, I simply feel that you young people need to know some history…
Topics: Attitudes Beliefs Change Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction History Memories Social Movements Values



Holidays

 5 records found

The Simple Gifts of CHristmas by Garrison Keillor


(December 25, 2025)
When you’ve heard a string of audiences in dim light sing about the manger and the silent night, your heart is full…
Topics: Christmas Contentment, Satsifaction Faith Gratitute Holidays Holiday Season


The Twelve SItes of Christmas (2024) by James N. Watkins


(December 20, 2024)
Jim's annual list of articles and cartoons with hope and humor for Christmas…
Topics: Christian Life Communication Compassion Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Faith Family God Grace Holidays Holiday Season Hopes & Dreams Humor Jesus Relationships


Thank You for Reading This by Garrison Keillor


(November 21, 2024)
So many blessings, and I haven't even mentioned friendship, sunsets, public transportation, Christian hymnody, baseball, hearing aids, the steady thoughtful leadership of my wife, trees, parks, rivers, the prairie, sonnets, Google, and cranberries…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Faith Family History Holidays Holiday Season Humor Relationships Thanks, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving


Giving Thanks 2021 by James N. Watkins


(November 5, 2021)
Despite pandemic, supply chain crisis…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction COVID-19 Gratitute Holiday Season Inspiration Thanks, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving


Here's to the New Year by James N. Watkins


(December 29, 2019)
May yours be happy, hopeful, and humorous…
Topics: Contentment, Satsifaction Holidays Holiday Season Hopes & Dreams Humor New Year's



Life Events

 21 records found

One-Armed Man at the Concert by Garrison Keillor


(January 29, 2026)
Gratitude is highly appropriate at 83…
Topics: Circumstances, Life Events Contentment, Satsifaction Coping Gratitute Humor Music Wellness


Happy Old Man Looking Over His Shoulder by Garrison Keillor


(November 13, 2025)
We live in fascinating times. History is being made daily…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction History Humor Memories Optimal Aging Politics


September, Wishing I Had a Pronto Pup by Garrison Keillor


(September 27, 2025)
I feel a little sad and sort of disenfranchised in September heading for October and for the fourth year in a row having missed the Minnesota State Fair and not eaten Pronto Pups or cheese curds or hot buttered corn on the co…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Memory (failing, improving) Seasons


How it All Happened, Thank Goodness! by Garrison Keillor


(July 31, 2025)
I was a very quiet boy, which back then people thought indicated a high IQ but I knew better…
Topics: Personal Stories (Biography/Autobiography) Communication Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Humor Language, Meaning Learning Media Memories Opportunity Optimal Aging Writing


A Wonderful Night in Lubbock by Garrison Keillor


(January 30, 2025)
I love the old hymns, face-to-face friendliness, good manners, the limerick, a walk in the park…
Topics: Communication Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Humor Relationships Travel


There are 16 more items for the category Life Events and the Contentment, Satsifaction topic...See the whole list


Travel

 5 records found

It Can Get Really Cold in Minnesota by Garrison Keillor


(December 19, 2024)
The cold has drawn us together as mammals. They know that I used to live here and then moved to New York, but they're in a forgiving mood because here I am suffering with them…
Topics: Circumstances, Life Events Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Coping Humor Seasons Travel Weather


O What a Beautiful Evening by Garrison Keillor


(January 5, 2024)
Hundreds of mature people in a state of delight and I felt that I, the tall somber man brought up to believe that dancing is sinful, was the most delirious person on the floor…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Leisure Optimal Aging Social Activities Travel


Sunday Morning, Back in the Fourth Pew by Garrison Keillor


(August 24, 2023)
I got up at 5 a.m. and hiked over to the South Rim and stood in the dark in the midst of strangers as the eastern sky lightened and it was like church except no singing and no handshakes…
Topics: Beauty Beliefs Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Faith Nature Religion Worship


What a Little Train Ride Can Do by Garrison Keillor


(April 13, 2023)
It's a gorgeous ride and Peekskill is a lovely little town with a respectable café in the train depot and shops nearby. It is a fine way to get out of the city and look at the big river…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight Contentment, Satsifaction Leisure Optimal Aging Travel


The Little Known Benefits of Raw Oytsers Perhaps by Garrison Keillor


(February 17, 2022)
It was a very happy day in Easton…
Topics: Circumstances, Life Events Communication Contentment, Satsifaction Food & Nuitrition Humor Relationships Travel