Rhubarb
Saturday, April 25, 1998
Listen

.....brought to you by Beebopareebop Frozen Rhubarb.

There is a stoical spirit that is shared by all northern peoples, that you'll find in Minnesota (TR: Ja that's for sure then.) and in Russia (TR RUSSIAN) and in Japan (TR JAPANESE) ---- I should say, northern Japan (TR JAPANESE, MIDWESTERN ACCENT) ---- in Sweden certainly (TR SWEDISH) and northern Italy (TR ITALIAN) and northern India (TR: Oh yes, that is certainly very very true, very true) and in northern Ireland (TR: Faith, yes) and in New England (TR: There was a man come through asking about real estate.....I said, I didn't know any that wasn't) ---- and sometimes this hardscrabble northern personality is reluctant to accept the reality of spring when it's really here. (TR DUBIOUS RUSSIAN) We can't believe that there isn't one more hard frost around the corner. (DUBIOUS JAPANESE) We assume that nature is waiting for us to put on a short-sleeved shirt and then the mosquitoes come. (DUBIOUS SWEDISH). We assume that a winter of terrible ice storms will be followed by a summer of forest fires. (ITALIAN) We are a dark people who expect the worst and that's why we don't put seeds in the ground until the 4th of July. Because, at a time when the rest of the nation believes it can go on earning 20% a year returns on investment forever, someone has to be skeptical and God has given us that job. But ever so often you get a few days off, and that's when you have yourself some rhubarb pie. Rhubarb pie is the secret of the good life! A taste of springtime. Bebopareebop Rhubarb Pie, that is.

But one little thing can revive a guy,
And that is home-made rhubarb pie.
Serve it up, nice and hot.
Maybe things aren't as bad as you thought.

DUET:
Mama's little baby loves rhubarb, rhubarb,
Beebopareebop Rhubarb Pie.
Mama's little baby loves rhubarb, rhubarb,
Beebopareebop Rhubarb Pie.

© 1998 BY GARRISON KEILLOR