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Comments from the week of 08.27.23

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Traveler, hermit, writer, man of the city, citizen of the small towns, liberal conservative, Christian with questions, set in your open-minded ways.... A nice collection of multiple personalities! If you had been a personal friend of Uncle Sigmund, the state of understanding of the human mind might have been a lot more advanced by now.

Jim Katz

These are minor idiosyncrasies shared by millions of people, Mr. Katz. This is why I object to the use of the word “diversity” to apply only to race and ethnicity. Wherever you have five human beings, you have diversity, and each person contains contradictions. Sigmund was interested in more dramatic things, such as hysteria, which is not a trait of mine, since I’m from Minnesota. GK

Dear Mr. Keillor,

I agree that we tend to be suspicious of the homeless and poor, but oftentimes there are reasons for this. I live in Lowertown in downtown St. Paul and many of these folks have addiction or mental health issues. There has to be a way to help them, but I admit I feel unsafe around someone who is dirty, is screaming obscenities at everyone, and won't leave us alone when we walk out the door of our condo. The other day, there was a guy who was sleeping in a shopping cart. Yes, it's sad, but it makes this once lovely city look terrible. Some of these folks are responsible for the terrible shape they're in.

Sylvia

St. Paul

I agree and I believe in the enforcement of a base level of public civility. But I don’t have an answer. When I was a kid, my family drove to church through downtown Minneapolis and I saw hundreds of hoboes waiting in line to go into the Union Mission. Sometimes some church folks and I sang at the Mission and it was appalling to see men in that condition. Now I’m an old man and I can see that I’ve never experienced hopelessness, never, nothing close to it. But if we consider ourselves a Judeo-Christian nation, we have obligations to the needy that must be met. Jesus said so in clear terms. GK

Sir,

So many references to train travel in recent columns and letters! I grew up in Chicago, a railroad hub, and when I was five, we made our first family train trip to Denver to visit my dad’s Aunt Tillie. It required an overnight in a Pullman car, heavy curtains enclosed our cozy bunks. I got the top one, which had a long narrow window next to the mattress, with a long narrow sliding panel to cover it. If I was awake during the night, I’d slide that panel back and look out into the night, snug in my private space.

When I was eight, we took the Empire Builder, two attached bedrooms for two nights as we traveled from Chicago to Spokane, drove to Portland, took the Shasta Daylight to Oakland. I remember a night-time arrival, lying on a wooden bench waiting for a ferry to take us over to San Francisco. We drove down the coast to Los Angeles, taking in Big Sur enroute and crossing into Tijuana for about 45 minutes so we could say we’d been to Mexico. Then on to the Super Chief to head back home to Chicago.

Many years later my dad, now a grandfather living in Florida, wanted his young grandsons to have the experience of spending the night on a train. We slept in cozy compartments for two each, the sort that barely leave room to stand up when you’re not in bed and present a challenge when it’s time to get dressed in the morning — although not as bad as a Pullman bunk! When I opened the door to their compartment to say good night, there were two contented boys, cozily tucked in and reading. I loved it.

Shorter train trips here and in Europe took place over the years, but in 2016 I knew that the Empire Builder was still running and persuaded my husband that we ought to take it home from a trip to the Pacific Northwest. “Home” is the Boston area. The scenery and engaging conversations with fellow passengers made it all worthwhile.

Judy Mack

The Southwest Chief is still a very classy train and Amtrak seems to be doing very well though the long waits on a sidetrack for endless freight trains to pass can become a little tiresome. I sleep very well in a compartment and the swaying and bumping is rather comforting. GK

Pueblo is at 4500 feet not 7000. Get over it!

Donald Hassemer

I’m over it. GK

Dear Mr. Keillor,
Thank you for writing Cheerfulness. I enjoyed it. If, like many of us, you were told by your teachers to emulate Hemingway and write only short, pithy sentences, I for one am glad you ignored that advice.

James Kuehl

Short sentences work well for the cowboy/soldier/adventurer narrator but I prefer the headlong rush of thoughts inextricably linked, bursts of enthusiasm shifting and turning, which is therapeutic for someone like me who was brought up by evangelicals who spoke bluntly and avoided irony and metaphorical elaboration, so that’s what I do, but only in the personal essay form. Fiction is different. GK

I want to be sure you hear this version of It Is Well with My Soul:

Joyce Davidson

Thank you. I’m surprised, going around doing shows with singing intermissions, how many people know this hymn by heart. GK

Dear Mr. Keillor,

I really resent the fact that you put down evangelicals in your recent column. I belong to what might be considered a mega-church, and we are filled with the love of Christ our Lord, and we try to carry that with us throughout the week. Hundreds of people fill our sanctuary, and we are large because we have something to offer. I get tired of all the negative press and you’re adding fuel to the fire.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Janice

Thank you for the blessing. The love of Christ is with me and I trust with you though I think you missed the point of the column, which was that pedestrianism brings us close to our neighbors and motorism does not. The negative press that evangelicals get is mostly about their support of a crook and conman and would-be fascist for president. This was a mistake on the part of believing Christians and it has brought dishonor to the House of the Lord. Sorry to speak frankly but when you get to my age there’s no point in beating around the bush. GK

GK,

In today’s Substack column you mentioned a “decent intelligent Lutheran woman who is living the life of Job” who bathes in Walmart and Costco lavatories. If this woman lives in NYC, please tell her about an outreach program I chair at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on W. 65th & CPW. Every Saturday we provide a nourishing hot meal and a chance for socialization. Additionally, we have a shower that our clients are free to use. We start again on September 16. Just tell her to ring the bell at the red doors on W. 65th Street at 1:00pm. We will welcome her with open arms.

Jan Lindemann

I’m glad to hear about this but the woman lives in Minnesota. She is a valiant person who is struggling with many burdens and friends of mine are doing their best to see her through the welfare maze. GK

GK,

You talk a lot about church these days, and I'm wondering if you ever experienced a time when you didn't attend church for an extended period of time. If so, what brought you back?

Mark A.

I left church going when I was 20 and returned periodically because I missed it. The radio show was often on the road and so that wiped out Sunday morning but I did find places, a Congregational church in St. Paul, Holy Apostles in New York, and then an Episcopal church on the West Side. What brings me back is the need for spiritual contemplation which is prompted by the Scripture readings and the homily, the ritual of prayer, and the joyfulness of congregational singing. I don’t come from joyful people, we tend to be judgemental, sarcastic, dour, and when you can find release from your own disposition, it’s very gratifying. Gratitude is another reason for going: I’m grateful for my Christian parents and the model of their lives and I support the church for what it offers children and young people. Despite my mishaps and blunders, my cup runneth over. Praise God. GK

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