We Are Still Married by Garrison Keillor
EXCERPT: How To Write a Letter
from Garrison Keillor's book 'We Are Still Married'
We shy persons need to write a letter now and then, or else we'll dry up and blow away. It's true. And I speak as one who loves to reach for the phone, dial the number, and talk. I say, "Big Bopper here - what's shakin', babes?" The telephone is to shyness what Hawaii is to February, it's a way out of the woods, and yet: a letter is better.
Such a sweet gift - a piece of handmade writing, in an envelope that is not a bill, sitting in our friend's path when she trudges home from a long day spent among wahoos and savages, a day our words will help repair. They don't need to be immortal, just sincere. She can read them twice and again tomorrow: You're someone I care about, Corrine, and think of often and every time I do you make me smile.
We need to write, otherwise nobody will know who we are. They will have only a vague impression of us as A Nice Person, because, frankly, we don't shine at conversation, we lack the confidence to thrust our faces forward and say, "Hi! I'm Heather Hooten; let me tell you about my week." Mostly we say "Uh-huh" and "Oh, really." People smile and look over our shoulder, looking for someone else to meet.
So a shy person sits down and writes a letter. To be known by another person - to meet and talk freely on the page - to be close despite distance. To escape from anonymity and be our own sweet selves and express the music of our souls.
Same thing that moves a giant rock star to sing his heart out in front of 123,000 people moves us to take a ballpoint in hand and write a few lines to our dear Aunt Eleanor. We want to be known. We want her to know that we have fallen in love, that we quit our job, that we're moving to New York, and we want to say a few things that might not get said in casual conversation: Thank you for what you've meant to me, I'm very happy right now.
The first step in writing letters is to get over the guilt of not writing. You don't "owe" anybody a letter. Letters are a gift. The burning shame you feel when you see unanswered mail makes it harder to pick up a pen and makes for a cheerless letter when you finally do. I feel bad about not writing, but I've been so busy, etc. Skip this. Few letters are obligatory, and they are Thanks for the wonderful gift and I am terribly sorry to hear about George's death and Yes, you're welcome to stay with us next month, and not many more than that. Write those promptly if you want to keep your friends. Don't worry about the others, except love letters, of course. When your true love writes, Dear Light of My Life, Joy of My Heart, O Lovely Pulsating Core of My Sensate Life, some response is called for.
Some of the best letters are tossed off in a burst of inspiration, so keep your writing stuff in one place where you can sit down for a few minutes and (Dear Roy, I am in the middle of a book entitled We Are Still Married but thought I'd drop you a line. Hi to your sweetie, too) dash off a note to a pal. Envelopes, stamps, address book, everything in a drawer so you can write fast when the pen is hot.
A blank white eight-by-eleven sheet can look as big as Montana if the pen's not so hot - try a smaller page and write boldly. Or use a note card with a piece of fine art on the front; if your letter ain't good, at least they get the Matisse. Get a pen that makes a sensuous line, get a comfortable typewriter, a friendly word processor - whichever feels easy to the hand.
Sit for a few minutes with the blank sheet in front of you, and meditate on the person you will write to, let your friend come to mind until you can almost see her or him in the room with you. Remember the last time you saw each other and how your friend looked and what you said and what perhaps was unsaid between you, and when your friend becomes real to you, start to write.
Write the salutation - Dear You - and take a deep breath and plunge in. A simple declarative sentence will do, followed by another and another and another. Tell us what you're doing and tell it like you were talking to us. Don't think about grammar, don't think about lit'ry style, don't try to write dramatically, just give us your news. Where did you go, who did you see, what did they say, what do you think?
If you don't know where to begin, start with the present moment: I'm sitting at the kitchen table on a rainy Saturday morning. Everyone is gone and the house is quiet. Let your simple description of the present moment lead to something else, let the letter drift gently along.
The toughest letter to crank out is one that is meant to impress, as we all know from writing job applications; if it's hard work to slip off a letter to a friend, maybe you're trying too hard to be terrific. A letter is only a report to someone who already likes you for reasons other than your brilliance. Take it easy.
Don't worry about form. It's not a term paper. When you come to the end of one episode, just start a new paragraph. You can go from a few lines about the sad state of pro football to your fond memories of Mexico to your cat's urinary tract infection to a few thoughts on personal indebtedness and on to the kitchen sink and what's in it. The more you write, the easier it gets, and when you have a True True Friend to write to, a compadre, a soul sibling, then it's like driving a car down a country road, you just get behind the keyboard and press on the gas.
Don't tear up the page and start over when you write a bad line - try to write your way out of it. Make mistakes and plunge on. Let the letter cook along and let yourself be bold. Outrage, confusion, love - whatever is in your mind, let it find a way on to the page. Writing is a means of discovery, always, and when you come to the end and write Yours ever or Hugs and kisses, you'll know something you didn't when you wrote Dear Pal.
Probably your friend will put your letter away, and it'll be read again a few years from now - and it will improve with age. And forty years from now, your friend's grandkids will dig it out of the attic and read it, a sweet and precious relic of the ancient eighties that gives them a sudden clear glimpse of you and her and the world we old-timers knew. You will then have created an object of art. Your simple lines about where you went, who you saw, what they said, will speak to those children and they will feel in their hearts the humanity of our times.
You can't pick up a phone and call the future and tell them about our times. You have to pick up a piece of paper.
PURCHASE the book 'We Are Still Married' >>>
Praise for the book:
“Garrison Keillor made it possible, after twenty years of black humor…to be both funny and nice, hip and winsome, scathing and loving, all in the flick of a single many-barbed quip——The Washington Post Book World
“Keillor’s literary style is as flexible and assured as his vocal delivery. It can slip from mood to mood so subtly and quickly you’re never quite sure where you are…. [His] writing has the silvery slip of running water, so graceful and easy it’s hard to believe it can carry so much that is jagged and unresolved. His integrity lies in his not smoothing away those rough edges in the swift current of his prose; they’re bruisingly, sometimes cuttingly there.” —The Village Voice
CONSULT CYBERETRIEVE TO GET YOUR STOLEN BTC, USDT, OR ETH BACK.
Allow me to suggest Cyberetrieve, a respectable hacker that can assist you in recovering any lost money via the internet, in any event of cryptocurrency fraud. I was duped into believing that an investment company I came on had taken all of the bitcoin I had in my wallet—nearly $567k worth—and they froze it.An internet advertisement then led me to these recovery specialists, who helped me recover everything. They have helped me to overcome my darkest grief. If someone has fallen for a fraud, they can be contacted via email at cyberetrieve@mail.com or Telegram @cyberetrieve.Additional channels of communication below:
Whatsapp:+1(216)418-7518
This piece is meant for scam victims.Ignore if you are not affected
PLEASE HOW CAN I RECOVER MY CRYPTO FROM A SCAMMER USING GRAYHATHACKS CONTRACTOR
I just have to take a moment to share with you all the incredible experience I had with Grayhathacks. I was absolutely gutted when I fell victim to a cryptocurrency scam and thought my hard-earned money was gone for good. But then, like a guardian angel, Grayhathacks swooped in and saved the day. Their team of expert hackers worked tirelessly to recover my funds in record time, and their 24/7 support kept me calm and informed every step of the way.
It wasn’t just about getting my money back, though. Grayhathacks went above and beyond by providing me with invaluable advice on how to better protect my assets in the future. Their dedication to not only recovering what was rightfully mine, but also ensuring that I wouldn’t fall victim to another scam, truly sets them apart from the rest.
And let’s not forget about their affordable prices. Trust me, I did my research, and Grayhathacks offers top-notch services at a fraction of the cost of other companies in the field. Their commitment to helping people like me recover from devastating situations is unmatched.
I was definitely a bit wary of reaching out to hackers at first, I mean, it’s not every day you hear about hiring hackers, right? But Grayhathacks completely blew me away with their professionalism and expertise. From the moment I contacted them, I felt like I was in good hands.
They took the time to understand my situation and reassured me every step of the way. It was clear that they genuinely cared about helping me and making sure I was satisfied with their service. And sure enough they definitely delivered on their promises and more.
I had zero issues working with Grayhathacks – no downtime, no stress, and definitely no regrets. They were efficient, reliable, and effective in getting the job done. To be honest they didn’t recover the whole amount the scammers got away with but I got back a big chunk of it and I will eternally be grateful for their efforts. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation where you need help from hackers, don’t hesitate to reach out to Grayhathacks. They are truly the best in the field and I can’t recommend them enough.
Email grayhathacks@contractor.net
WhatsApp +1 (843) 368-3015
Web 1: https://grayhathacksblog.wixsite.com/grayhathacks
Web 2: https://grayhathacksblog.wixsite.com/grayhathacksblog
PLEASE HOW CAN I RECOVER MY CRYPTO FROM A SCAMMER USING GRAYHATHACKS CONTRACTOR
I just have to take a moment to share with you all the incredible experience I had with Grayhathacks. I was absolutely gutted when I fell victim to a cryptocurrency scam and thought my hard-earned money was gone for good. But then, like a guardian angel, Grayhathacks swooped in and saved the day. Their team of expert hackers worked tirelessly to recover my funds in record time, and their 24/7 support kept me calm and informed every step of the way.
It wasn’t just about getting my money back, though. Grayhathacks went above and beyond by providing me with invaluable advice on how to better protect my assets in the future. Their dedication to not only recovering what was rightfully mine, but also ensuring that I wouldn’t fall victim to another scam, truly sets them apart from the rest.
And let’s not forget about their affordable prices. Trust me, I did my research, and Grayhathacks offers top-notch services at a fraction of the cost of other companies in the field. Their commitment to helping people like me recover from devastating situations is unmatched.
I was definitely a bit wary of reaching out to hackers at first, I mean, it’s not every day you hear about hiring hackers, right? But Grayhathacks completely blew me away with their professionalism and expertise. From the moment I contacted them, I felt like I was in good hands.
They took the time to understand my situation and reassured me every step of the way. It was clear that they genuinely cared about helping me and making sure I was satisfied with their service. And sure enough they definitely delivered on their promises and more.
I had zero issues working with Grayhathacks – no downtime, no stress, and definitely no regrets. They were efficient, reliable, and effective in getting the job done. To be honest they didn’t recover the whole amount the scammers got away with but I got back a big chunk of it and I will eternally be grateful for their efforts. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation where you need help from hackers, don’t hesitate to reach out to Grayhathacks. They are truly the best in the field and I can’t recommend them enough.
Email grayhathacks@contractor.net
WhatsApp +1 (843) 368-3015
Web 1: https://grayhathacksblog.wixsite.com/grayhathacks
Web 2: https://grayhathacksblog.wixsite.com/grayhathacksblog
I Have At Last Located A Trustworthy Cyber Expert Who Deals With Lost Bitcoin Troubles contact Lost Recovery Masters
I wanted to take a moment to express my utmost gratitude for the incredible service LOST RECOVERY MASTERS provided in helping me recover my lost cryptocurrency. When I first found myself in this unfortunate situation, I was feeling helpless and unsure of what to do. That’s when my friend recommended Lost Recovery Masters to me, and I couldn’t be more thankful for their suggestion. From the moment I reached out to Lost Recovery Masters, their team displayed professionalism, expertise, and genuine dedication to helping me. They patiently walked me through the entire recovery process, ensuring that I understood each step along the way. Their knowledge and guidance gave me the confidence that my lost cryptocurrency could be retrieved. I was truly amazed by the level of skill and precision Lost Recovery Masters exhibited throughout the process. Thank you once again for your exceptional service.
Website: https://lostrecoverymasters.com/
Whatsapp: +44(7537)-(105921)
Email (Support@lostrecoverymasters.com)
I Have At Last Located A Trustworthy Cyber Expert Who Deals With Lost Bitcoin Troubles contact Lost Recovery Masters
I wanted to take a moment to express my utmost gratitude for the incredible service LOST RECOVERY MASTERS provided in helping me recover my lost cryptocurrency. When I first found myself in this unfortunate situation, I was feeling helpless and unsure of what to do. That’s when my friend recommended Lost Recovery Masters to me, and I couldn’t be more thankful for their suggestion. From the moment I reached out to Lost Recovery Masters, their team displayed professionalism, expertise, and genuine dedication to helping me. They patiently walked me through the entire recovery process, ensuring that I understood each step along the way. Their knowledge and guidance gave me the confidence that my lost cryptocurrency could be retrieved. I was truly amazed by the level of skill and precision Lost Recovery Masters exhibited throughout the process. Thank you once again for your exceptional service.
Website: https://lostrecoverymasters.com/
Whatsapp: +44(7537)-(105921)
Email (Support@lostrecoverymasters.com)