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A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor

The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window
In this feature, regular listener Mrs. Sundberg shares her thoughts about Saturday's show.

September 4, 2007


Convictions, I think they call 'em

Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. First show of the season, and at the state fair to boot. I was so happy I said to heck with cooking and ran out to the deli for some roast beef sandwiches and potato salad and coleslaw and got it all on plates and handed out just in time for Mr. Keillor singing that little opening tune about his sweet, sweet old someone comin' through that door, the one I usually miss because I'm trying to get the laundry put away or Mr. Sundberg is hollering from the basement, "Show's on!" and I holler back, "I know, I'm in the kitchen with the radio on!" and he hollers up, "What was that?" and I holler, "I know it's on!" and he hollers, "That's what I was tryin' to tell ya!"

Well, whatever. I heard it all this time around, and just loved it. I kept saying to the kids, A whole new year of the show, what do you know about that. I even got a few tears going here and there, but it wasn't just Patty Griffin and Jearlyn and all those songs. No, this time around I was feeling a bit introspective. I've got a birthday this week that turns something of a corner and I'm not handling it as well as I'd hoped. Not that I'm getting up there, mind you. I certainly haven't peaked, but I'm no spring chicken and when I get up off the couch it takes a bit more effort than it used to.

Everything takes a bit more effort as I get older, which isn't such a bad thing. Not so much physical effort, as I find I have to be organized and maintain focus on what's important and what doesn't matter much. People are what really matter. Some of you have taken the time to write to me, for which I'm grateful and somewhat at a loss. With everything going on I try to answer your questions here as opposed to sending along something with a stamp, though I save every letter just in case I break a leg or find myself in quarantine. Anyway, a sweet letter came along last week from a young woman named Nikki who has two kids (8 and 11, a bit younger than my own), and lives somewhere out in Maine and who also has a birthday this month. She asked if I'm a Virgo and I am, and that may indeed account for what Nikki calls our "similar approaches to life."

Well, of course that got me thinking about how I go about things. I don't know a heck of a lot, but I'm pretty sure about what I do know. Convictions, I think they call 'em. And for what it's worth, I'll throw 'em at ya. It's good to have something to think about with autumn on its way.

  1. You can ask until the cows come home what it is you're here for, and no one — not God, not your mother, and not a bunch of tea leaves — is going to tell you. You've got to get going and figure it out.
  2. Life is pretty much unfair if you choose to look at it that way. So choose otherwise.
  3. You're basically on your own. If you don't like it that way, find some company.
  4. There really is nothing to be afraid of. Seems to me if you can imagine it, you can handle it. And what you can't imagine, well, no point in giving it much attention. Save your energy. You're going to be surprised sooner or later.
  5. Everything you own should have a purpose or meaning. If it doesn't, give it to someone for whom it will have purpose or meaning. Or recycle it. Or have a bonfire.
  6. When in doubt, ask yourself if what you're about to do makes sense. If it doesn't, don't do it. If it does, double-check with what your gut is telling you. Because your gut is almost always right.
  7. Be exactly who you are. Because you can't do your life right if you aren't you. Take my word for it.

The kids are off to school this week, and after you finish doing your celebration dance in the living room, mix up a batch of this snack mix. I've doubled the recipe for you, since the original amount just didn't cut it. It doesn't take long to throw together, and the kids will think you're the best cook in the world.

Caramel Snack Mix

12 cups Crispix cereal
6 cups Chex Multi-bran cereal (or try the wheat)
3 cups peanuts (pecans work, too)
4 sticks of butter
2 cups brown sugar

Combine cereal and nuts in bowl. Set aside.
Melt butter and brown sugar in saucepan. Bring to a boil, turn heat down a bit and
continue to boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Pour sauce over cereal mix and stir gently.
Pour mixture onto a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet covered with lightly greased foil.

Bake at 325 degrees for 8 minutes.
Stir, and bake for another 8 minutes.
Remove from oven and stir again.
Cool. Store in an airtight container.

Caution: Do not open airtight container if you are alone in the house, or if you're the only up and it's somewhere near midnight.

Mrs. Sundberg's Archives

June 2, 2008
Put a Sock In It

May 27, 2008
Look Out Your Window Now and Then

May 19, 2008
Oh, My

May 12, 2008
To Everything a Season

May 5, 2008
Tenderness

April 28, 2008
The Big List

April 21, 2008
Home Is a Fleeting Thing

April 14, 2008
Spring Came Just in Time This Year

April 7, 2008
A List, Some Cash and a Tank Full of Gas

March 31, 2008
April Fool's Day Possibilities

March 24, 2008
Something Good for No Real Reason

March 17, 2008
An Old Farmer to Thank

March 10, 2008
There Are a Bazillion Ways to be Together

March 4, 2008
Time for "Plan B"

February 26, 2008
An Ordinary Life

February 19, 2008
No Strings. No Conditions.

February 11, 2008
I Know When to Haul Out the Snow Pants

February 4, 2008
Three Extraordinary Things

January 28, 2008
A Few Precautionary Measures

January 22, 2008
Seven Surefire Ways to Stay Warm

January 14, 2008
'Bout as close to flying as a person can get

January 7, 2008
Emergency Curtains. Just In Case.

December 31, 2007
No Regrets

December 26, 2007
A Lovely Version of Chaos

December 18, 2007
There's frozen pizza in the kitchen. Have at it.

December 10, 2007
Dipped in Vigor and Rolled in Vim

December 3, 2007
I Did Not Win the Pillsbury Bake-Off.

November 26, 2007
It's cold outside and warm in here

November 19, 2007
Grief and Novocain

November 12, 2007
Your Life Does Have Meaning

November 5, 2007
Keep a Short Story Short

October 30, 2007
Night Shopping

October 22, 2007
Too Bad No One Was There to Witness It

October 15, 2007
Lord Help those within Earshot

October 8, 2007
A Fine and Stormy Evening

October 2, 2007
And Did It Ever Rain

September 24, 2007
Because I Could

September 17, 2007
Such a Perfect Day

September 10, 2007
Feeling Catapulted and a Bit Off

September 4, 2007
Convictions, I think they call 'em

August 29, 2007
Roses in my arms and tears in my eyes

August 21, 2007
The Second Story of My Life

August 13, 2007
Just me and the radio

August 6, 2007
Comfort Is A Good Word

July 30, 2007
Our Barefoot Days Are Numbered

July 26, 2007
Jet Lagged and Lagging

July 16, 2007
A Postcard from Mrs. S.

July 9, 2007
A Real Gem

July 2, 2007
Vacating Your Comfort Zone

June 25, 2007
Growing up is harder than learning how to fly

June 18, 2007
I feel pretty lucky, too

June 11, 2007
Give me a good thunderboomer

June 4, 2007
Perfection is reserved for very few things

May 29, 2007
When a Moment of Silence is in Order

May 21, 2007
Nothing like a good party

May 14, 2007
Every plate was a work of art

May 8, 2007
One heck of a fine time

April 30, 2007
Out there is where the kites are

April 23, 2007
Memorable, to say the least

April 16, 2007
Things are a bit different now

April 10, 2007
A Good Heart and a Full Pantry

April 2, 2007
We Tried to Sculpt a Sunrise

March 26, 2007
...And a Mighty Fine One at That

March 19, 2007
More of a Happy Secret

March 12, 2007
I Could Think of Worse...

March 5, 2007
The importance of having a plan

February 27, 2007
I've Driven in Worse than This

February 20, 2007
They Always Come Back

February 12, 2007
Buck Up and Go About Your Business

February 5, 2007
I really haven't risked much

January 29, 2007
What if they come to our house?

January 22, 2007
Heap coals of kindness

January 16, 2007
Decadence Doesn't Have to be Pricey

January 8, 2007
Repeat the Entire Process

January 2, 2007
The Good Old Days

December 26, 2006
I'll figure it out along the way

December 18, 2006
And all the while you smile

December 11, 2006
Patience Can Be Cultivated

December 4, 2006
There's Just so Much

November 27, 2006
In the Spirit of Gathering

November 20, 2006
Buy one, get one. Free.

November 13, 2006
Sometimes you give when you take

November 6, 2006
Being good takes some work

October 30, 2006
What Scares Me

October 23, 2006
Both Lovely and Strange

October 16, 2006
It's going to be a fine week

October 9, 2006
Resist Prohibition

October 2, 2006
When Solitude Presents Itself

September 27, 2006
Surprise! No Cheese

September 21, 2006
A Solid Routine

July 6, 2005
Good To Be Home

June 29, 2005
Something About Candlelight

June 23, 2005
The Meaning of "Mojo"

June 16, 2005
Plain and Simple

June 9, 2005
A Whistle And A Song

June 1, 2005
Go Play in the Rain

May 26, 2005
Bring Me a Little Water

May 19, 2005
What You Hold Onto

May 13, 2005
An Ordinary Mother's Day

May 5, 2005
The Boomerang Principle

April 29, 2005
Silence Left Behind

April 18, 2005
A Trip All Its Own

April 7, 2005
Forgiveness

March 31, 2005
Earth's the Right Place For Love

March 17, 2005
Nothing Like a Good Road Trip

March 11, 2005
How Time Passes

March 7, 2005
A Kind of Balance

February 23, 2005
Not a Trivial Pursuit

February 15, 2005
Long-Time Friends

February 9, 2005
The Last Word

February 2, 2005
That's The Story Of Love

January 25, 2005
Found Out

January 19, 2005
You Just Never Know

January 12, 2005
The Things We Need

January 4, 2005
New Year's Wishes

December 23, 2004
Dreaming at Christmastime

December 14, 2004
A Perfect Pair

December 8, 2004
A Wonderful Life

November 30, 2004
Mr. Sundberg's Christmas Gift

November 22, 2004
Shine Its Ever-Lovin' Light

November 17, 2004
"Crazy" Can Be a Good Thing

November 9, 2004
There’s Hope In Laughter

November 2, 2004
Hot Coffee For Your Vote

October 26, 2004
We're Out Here, Listening

October 19, 2004
More Biscotti, Please

October 13, 2004
A Voice Like a Hammock

October 4, 2004
Polka Music. Oh, Yah

September 28, 2004
Like Pie Heaven

July 21, 2004
Wish You Were Here

July 7, 2004
Let's Go Now

June 28, 2004
Like Words to a Song

June 21, 2004
People Are Very Much Like Icebergs

June 14, 2004
You Love What You Love

June 8, 2004
Alone in a Crowd

June 1, 2004
What There Is to Be Afraid Of

May 25, 2004
Goddess Victory Squat

May 17, 2004
Things Could Have Been Different But They Weren't

May 10, 2004
Best Mom in the World

May 4, 2004
A Music Bath

April 26, 2004
Tin Washtubs and Hay Mows

April 19, 2004
It Was a Wonderful Thing

April 12, 2004
The Waiting Room for Paradise

April 5, 2004
A Solid Vocabulary

March 29, 2004
Thank Goodness I Brought My Rhubarb Cobbler

March 23, 2004
He Said, "There You Are."

March 16, 2004
The Chicken Sure Was Good

March 9, 2004
A Missionary in a Turquoise Polyester Dress

March 1, 2004
No More Shanghai Barbecues

February 23, 2004
I Happen to Love You Even Though You Make Me Crazy

February 17, 2004
A Mother-Poet Version of Paul Bunyan

February 9, 2004
Like the Garden of Eden With The Greens And The Pomegranates

February 2, 2004
Crank up the Volume and Put on Your Parka

January 26, 2004
Hash Browns, Side Pork, and Cold Whole Milk

January 20, 2004
The Little Clock Radio And the Plastic Palm Tree

January 13, 2004
I'll Bet You Could Smell That Cheese All the Way Down to the Mailbox

January 5, 2004
The Tattoo, Joe Petroski, and the Llama Farm

December 29, 2003
"Homemade Toffee Nearly Unhinged My Jaw"

December 22, 2003
"So Much for the Meatballs"

December 15, 2003
"Hallelujah in the Windshield Wipers"

December 8, 2003
"How are They Going to Pull This Off?"

December 5, 2003
"Red the Color of Wintergreen Berries"

November 25, 2003
"Like a Firefly on a Hot Summer Night"

November 17, 2003
"My toes were numb and the Fajitas were too spicy"

November 10, 2003
"I'm in the closet. Chicken and dumplings are in the oven."

November 1, 2003
"Maybe It Was the Barometric Pressure"

October 28, 2003
"I felt that nyckelharpa in my fillings"



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