“We live a pleasant life shopping at the Food Shoppe . . . taking the kids to the Weinery-Beanery, . . . and eating bran flakes . .. and then, with no warning, we wake up one morning stricken with middle age, full of loneliness, dumb, in pain. Our work is useless, our vocation is lost, and nobody cares about us at all. This is not bearable. In despair, we go do something spectacularly dumb, like run away with Amber the cocktail waitress, and suddenly all the women in our life look at us with unmitigated disgust.” LooksCareRunningKidsAgePainLostMorningOur LivesMiddleLonelinessDespairEatingWake UpDumbUselessPleasantWarningShoppingRunning AwayDisgustingVocationMiddle AgesCocktailsAmberWaitressBearableNobody CaresFlakes Author:Garrison Keillor
“Growing up in a place that has winter, you learn to avoid self-pity. Winter is not a personal experience, everybody else is just as cold as you, so you shouldn't complain about it too much. You learn this as a kid, coming home crying from the cold, and Mother looks down and says, 'It's only a little frostbite. You're okay.' And thus you learn to be okay. What's done is done. Get over it. Drink your coffee. It's not the best you'll ever get but it's good enough.” LooksLittlesSelfDoneEnoughHomeKidsMotherGrowing UpToo MuchGrowingCryColdDrinkOkayDown AndWinterComplainingCoffeePityOver ItComing HomeGood EnoughGet OverSelf PityPersonal Experiences Author:Garrison Keillor
“Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.” PeopleLooksGreedInvestingVanityGentleCampingSmall TalkCampfireSweet Corn Author:Garrison Keillor
“Sometimes you have to look reality in the eye, and deny it.” LooksSometimesRealityEyeTimeDenyEthos Author:Garrison Keillor
“When in doubt, look intelligent.” InspirationalLooksDoubtIntelligentWhen In Doubt Author:Garrison Keillor
“Selective ignorance, a cornerstone of child rearing. You don't put kids under surveillance: it might frighten you. Parents should sit tall in the saddle and look upon their troops with a noble and benevolent and extremely nearsighted gaze.” ShouldLooksChildrenMightKidsParentIgnoranceNobleTallTroopsSurveillanceBenevolentSelectiveCornerstonesSaddlesChild RearingRearing A Child Book:Leaving Home Source: Leaving Home
“She gave him such a look... Man oh man, if looks could kill. That one might have totalled a city block.” IfsMenLooksMightCitiesBlockInsult Author:Garrison Keillor
“When writing loses touch with the beautiful surface of the world, it loses its way. You always want to be in touch with how things look and what people say and what they call their dogs.” PeopleWorldWayWantWritingLooksBeautifulLosesDogSurface Author:Garrison Keillor
“What keeps faith cheerful is the extreme persistence of gentleness and humor. Gentleness is everywhere in daily life, a sign that faith rules through ordinary things: through cooking and small talk, through storytelling, making love, fishing, tending animals and sweet corn and flowers, through sports, music, and books, raising kids-all the places where the gravy soaks in and grace shines through. Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people. Lacking any other purpose in life, it would be good enough to live for their sake.” PeopleLooksBookEnoughWould BeKidsPurposeSportsAnimalGraceSweetFlowerOrdinaryCookingShiningGreedSakeExtremesBe GoodStorytellingVanityPersistenceGentleFishingDaily LifeGood EnoughPurpose Of LifeMaking LoveLackingCheerfulGentlenessCornKeep The FaithOrdinary ThingsRaising KidsSmall TalkGravyCampfireSweet Corn Author:Garrison Keillor
“Where I'm from we don't trust paper. Wealth is what's here on the premises. If I open a cupboard and see, say, thirty cans of tomato sauce and a five-pound bag of rice, I get a little thrill of well-being - much more so than if I take a look at the quarterly dividend report from my mutual fund.” IfsWellsLooksLittlesWealthFiveTrustPaperInvestmentWell BeingReportsBagsPoundsFundMutualThrillRicePremisesSauceDon't TrustTomatoesDividendsCupboardsMutual Fund Author:Garrison Keillor
