Prairie Home Companion

One of the greatest joys of public radio is Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion.   The show is in New York City for four weeks this month, and Helen and I attended the first show last night.

We had a wonderful time, and even got to sing the chorus to "Oklahoma!" as part of "Guy Noir, Private Eye."  Sounds effects man Fred Newman was amazing.  Another highlight was an appearance by a West Point Cadet who was born in Taiwan; her parents listened to Prairie Home after they moved to the US.  Mandolin player Sam Bush lit up the stage, and cabaret singer Maude Maggart was sensational.

The News from Lake Wobegon included gracious references to the deaths of Terri Schiavo and Pope John Paul II.  It would have been easy to avoid these difficult topics, but instead Keillor wove them into a wonderful meditation about  how the ghosts from his own past have been kind. This moment of dignity was worth the price of admission.