Tuesday, August 26, 2003
Listen
RD:
We're all reaching out toward each other
All trying so hard to find
A reason to love one another,
The bond that unites humankind.
GK: Nice party.
FN: Yeah.
GK: You must be a friend of Susan's---
FN: Right.
GK: She seems very nice.
FN: We think so.
GK: We were so glad that Bob found somebody after he and Janice split up. He went through a bad patch then. Kind of lost hope for awhile. But they seem pretty happy.
FN: Yeah. So you're from Minnesota?
GK: Right. St. Paul.
FN: (PAUSE) It gets cold there.
GK: Yeah.
FN: I had a friend who lived in Minneapolis.
GK: Oh?
FN: That's near there, right?
GK: Right.
FN: He taught at the --- there's a University there, right?
GK: Right.
FN: He taught English.
GK: I see.
FN: Olson was his name.
GK: I don't think I know him.
FN: Big tall guy, ponytail---
GK: I don't think so.
FN: Carried a knapsack--- wore Adidases---
GK: No.
RD:
We're all reaching out toward each other
Searching for hearts and minds
A reason to love one another,
The bond that unites humankind.
GK: So I guess you know Susan from Buffalo, right?
FN: Right. We lived next door to her.
GK: It snows quite a bit in Buffalo, doesn't it.
FN: It can, yes.
GK: The lake effect, right?
FN: Right.
GK: So what sort of work do you do in Buffalo?
FN: Me? I'm a marriage counselor.
GK: Oh. I see.
FN: And you?
GK: I'm a writer.
FN: Uh huh. Interesting. What sort of writing?
GK: Fiction.
FN: Oh. That must be interesting.
GK: Yeah.
FN: I've always meant to write but I never seem to have the time.
GK: Uh huh.
FN: What's your name? Maybe I've heard of you.
GK: Carson Wyler.
FN: Oh.
GK: Wrote a novel called Spacious Skies? It was part of a trilogy. With Amber Waves Of Grain. And Purple Mountains Majesty?
FN: Sounds familiar. I've always meant to read fiction, but somehow I just can't get interested. Mostly read non-fiction.
GK: Sure. -----So you do counselling with--- with----
FN: Married people. You married?
GK: Uh huh.
FN: How long?
GK: A while.
FN: Great. (PAUSE) How's it going?
GK: Pretty good. Where'd you go to study that?
FN: University of Buffalo.
GK: Really. I knew someone who went there. Joyce Green.
FN: Psychology major?
GK: No. English, I think. Tall girl.
FN: I don't think I knew her.
GK: Real smart. She played the guitar too. In a blues band.
FN: What year did she graduate?
GK: 78.
FN: Oh. I graduated in 85.
GK: Oh.
RD:
A time to reach out and find
The bond that unites humankind.
FN: Funny you should mention it. I used to know a woman who played guitar in a band. Played bass. Her name was Iris.
GK: You're kidding.
FN: Iris Riley. She was from Minnesota, come to think of it.
GK: That's my wife.
FN: Iris?
GK: Yeah.
FN: Tall, black hair, a little tattoo on her hip---
GK: That's my wife.
FN: Huh. We went together for six years.
GK: Is that right? She never mentioned you.
FN: Yeah. We talked about moving in together, but---she wanted to get married and I wasn't ready.
GK: Well, I'll be darned.
RD: The bond that unites humankind.
GK: Well, it's been interesting talking to you, Fred.
FN: Frank.
GK: Frank. Good to meet you.
FN: Same here. And say hello to Iris for me.
GK: Yeah. You bet I will.
FN: And give me a call. Let's get together. Maybe we can all go out and eat Ukrainian food some night. Iris loves Ukrainian.
GK: Oh really. I had no idea.
FN: Anyway, give me a call.
GK: Sure.
FN: Call me. We'll all get together.
GK: I can't wait.
RD:
We're all coming closer together,
We're all trying so hard to be
United in bonds of understanding
And true community.
© Garrison Keillor 2003
