A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor

To: Lars & Laura
Gleadlig Jul kaere Lars og Laura. I am looking forward to Christmass in Annapolis and your Danish cooking
—Kim Kristiansen

To: Sara
Well...you're still as stubborn as a Christmas Goat, and I still love you anyways (some things never change). Sorry that we couldn't be at PHC this Christmas, but maybe next!
—Steve Ritland

To: Pam
Happy 47th Birthday to my wife. Hope your new left knee lasts the next 47 years!
—Chip Meier

To: ampersand
Hi to my beautiful golden retriever, Ampersand, who goes for walkies each Saturday evening during the show.
—susan corey

To: Ray & Freda
Nana & Grandad, thanks for coming over from England to spend Christmas with us this year. We love you! Gregory & Catherine
—Simon & Nancy Fensom

To: Tom Dibble
Tom, Ben, Scott, Don, Hope you enjoy your first time at the show. We're holding down the fort in New Jersey. Love, Chris and Sandy
—Chris Dibble

To: Josh
Welcome home to my wonderful husband returning home from a deployment to Kuwait. The coyotes, javelinas and I are glad you're home safe and sound.
—Cheryl McIntyre

To: Barbara Seymour
Happy Birthday to my adopted Aunt Barbara. You give me such good books I'm ready to join the Association of Professional English Majors and I'm only 12. Love from Joey
—Joey DeGrado

To: Amber Vickers
Times have passed, and we've both moved on to different bearings of those famous compasses and their obliquely running feet. Merry Christmas, happy engagement, and fare thee well, sai.
—Jeff Deignan

To: Ron Doebler
As we near the five year mark, I'd like to thank you for the wonderful time we've spent together. Cheers to another five. Love, your honey.
—Angela Taylor

To: Pastor Wendy and the good people of the American Lutheran Church of Gothenburg, Nebraska
Eternally grateful for your generosity in providing three stranded travelers a place of rest in the post-Thanksgiving storm.
—Margot (pron. Margo) Lee

To: Pastor Wendy of the American Lutheran Church in Gothenburg, Nebraska
Grateful to Pastor Wendy and the good folks of the American Lutheran Church in Gothenburg, Nebraska, who housed 3 stranded travelers in the post-Thanksgiving blizzard.
—Margot (pron. Margo) Lee

To: Sue Carr
Holiday greetings to my sister in the frozen northland of Bemidji from your brother in warm Arizona! Wishing you, Paul and Ben the very best.
—Tom Carr

To: Bashir Eustache
Dear Bashir, thanks for always being the friend who cleans my toes and brings me chocolate syrup in the morning. Not even Sarah Kaneko could do it better! Hilarie
—Hilarie Lloyd

To: Aunt Johanna Venema
Happy 103rd birthday & Merry Christmas. If RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Bicycle Ride Across Iowa)goes through Orange City next year, I will stop by to see you.
—Bill Waanders

To: Bill & Lani Bassett
If Governor Pawlenty, Prime Minister Martin, Billy Graham and President Bush can say it, so can we. Congratulations on your upcoming 50th anniversary! Your sons,
—Steve, Doug & Scott Bassett

To: Daddy
Sorry about the mirror - at least I didn't follow the family tradition of insanity and drive up the pedestrian ramp. Drive safely, Aunt Roxie...
—Michelle Wigington

To: Claudia and Joanna
I know you two went into my closet after I told you not to. What you saw and what you didn't will always remain a mystery to us. We'll be watching your faces on Christmas morning, as always...
—Beth and Michael Heaney

To: Herbert Henry Lieffring
To my darling Herbert Henry on his 60th birthday (Dec 17th): Your life, my life, no longer. Our life, one life, enriched and passionate, goes places I dreamed. Thank you for making life special. Love, Diana
—Diana Lieffring

To: Mary O'Sullivan
Happy Birthday Mom from your daughter on the other side of the world, in the far too warm climate of Fuzhou, China. Sorry I couldn't be there for the big 5 0, and I'll miss you all come Christmas.
—Reanne O'Sullivan

To: to all
Another clean and sober holiday seasson in Humboldt county CA. Hope yours is too.
—Milton A

To: Nathaniel
Thank you for an eventful 2 years of marriage; a spunky son; and a blood-thirsty, leaky-bottomed, gassy, yet ever effectionate cat. You put up with a lot and that is just one reason I love you. -Your PMS-ing but still loving wife
—Amanda Skinner

To: Mo and Frank
Hope all is well, and life is good! Love from Mom and Dad in the motorhome parked outside!
—Brad Barfield

To: Gramma Sharon & Papa Ronnie
We're glad to see you finally got out of the house for an evening! Love from Jake and Nicole (Mom and Bob, too!)
—Linda Berg

To: Brian Blodgett
I wish you a very Happy 40th Birthday on Saturday, December 18th. Although we can't be together to celebrate, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
—Ken Zade

To: Bob Whitehorn
To my husband Bob, Nothing could have prepared you for marriage to an ex-Laestadian Lutheran English major from Bloomington, but I'm glad you like it. Thanks for 17 great years. I love you madly.
—Julie Whitehorn

To: Wolf
Just wanted to say hi. Did you catch that meteor shower on Monday? See you in school.
—Nate Moore

To: Carol and Dean
Hi to Carol and Dean in Estherville, Iowa! I wish I'd gotten this greeting on the air when you were there in Minneapolis at the live show for your 55th anniversary, but it probably just would have embarrassed you (Minnesotans aren't the only shy midwesterners!). You don't agree on much, but I know you'll both be listening to PHC whenever this gets read. Much love to you, from your daughter Colleen
—Colleen Higgins

To: Carol and Dean
Hi Mom and Dad, One a liberal, one conservative; one fond of words and the other an accountant; one an atheist and the other an elder in a Christian church; both county treasurers of your respective parties (Democratic and Republican) at the same time, I can count on you to disagree about just everything - except I know you'll both be listening to PHC. So, much love to you from your daughter Colleen.
—Colleen Higgins

To: Staff Sergeant Berregard
Kenneth, Maribel, Kenneth jr., Kevin and dog Elvis. Love you all from Farfar
—Peter Berregard

To: mom and dad
For the first time in 16 years I'll be back from France to spend Christmas together with you both. What a wonderful feeling. Lets hope the kids will appreciate an American Christmas as much as me.
—Sandy BRISSON