We Are Still Married by Garrison Keillor
EXCERPT: How To Write a Letter
from Garrison Keillor's book 'We Are Still Married'
We shy persons need to write a letter now and then, or else we'll dry up and blow away. It's true. And I speak as one who loves to reach for the phone, dial the number, and talk. I say, "Big Bopper here - what's shakin', babes?" The telephone is to shyness what Hawaii is to February, it's a way out of the woods, and yet: a letter is better.
Such a sweet gift - a piece of handmade writing, in an envelope that is not a bill, sitting in our friend's path when she trudges home from a long day spent among wahoos and savages, a day our words will help repair. They don't need to be immortal, just sincere. She can read them twice and again tomorrow: You're someone I care about, Corrine, and think of often and every time I do you make me smile.
We need to write, otherwise nobody will know who we are. They will have only a vague impression of us as A Nice Person, because, frankly, we don't shine at conversation, we lack the confidence to thrust our faces forward and say, "Hi! I'm Heather Hooten; let me tell you about my week." Mostly we say "Uh-huh" and "Oh, really." People smile and look over our shoulder, looking for someone else to meet.
So a shy person sits down and writes a letter. To be known by another person - to meet and talk freely on the page - to be close despite distance. To escape from anonymity and be our own sweet selves and express the music of our souls.
Same thing that moves a giant rock star to sing his heart out in front of 123,000 people moves us to take a ballpoint in hand and write a few lines to our dear Aunt Eleanor. We want to be known. We want her to know that we have fallen in love, that we quit our job, that we're moving to New York, and we want to say a few things that might not get said in casual conversation: Thank you for what you've meant to me, I'm very happy right now.
The first step in writing letters is to get over the guilt of not writing. You don't "owe" anybody a letter. Letters are a gift. The burning shame you feel when you see unanswered mail makes it harder to pick up a pen and makes for a cheerless letter when you finally do. I feel bad about not writing, but I've been so busy, etc. Skip this. Few letters are obligatory, and they are Thanks for the wonderful gift and I am terribly sorry to hear about George's death and Yes, you're welcome to stay with us next month, and not many more than that. Write those promptly if you want to keep your friends. Don't worry about the others, except love letters, of course. When your true love writes, Dear Light of My Life, Joy of My Heart, O Lovely Pulsating Core of My Sensate Life, some response is called for.
Some of the best letters are tossed off in a burst of inspiration, so keep your writing stuff in one place where you can sit down for a few minutes and (Dear Roy, I am in the middle of a book entitled We Are Still Married but thought I'd drop you a line. Hi to your sweetie, too) dash off a note to a pal. Envelopes, stamps, address book, everything in a drawer so you can write fast when the pen is hot.
A blank white eight-by-eleven sheet can look as big as Montana if the pen's not so hot - try a smaller page and write boldly. Or use a note card with a piece of fine art on the front; if your letter ain't good, at least they get the Matisse. Get a pen that makes a sensuous line, get a comfortable typewriter, a friendly word processor - whichever feels easy to the hand.
Sit for a few minutes with the blank sheet in front of you, and meditate on the person you will write to, let your friend come to mind until you can almost see her or him in the room with you. Remember the last time you saw each other and how your friend looked and what you said and what perhaps was unsaid between you, and when your friend becomes real to you, start to write.
Write the salutation - Dear You - and take a deep breath and plunge in. A simple declarative sentence will do, followed by another and another and another. Tell us what you're doing and tell it like you were talking to us. Don't think about grammar, don't think about lit'ry style, don't try to write dramatically, just give us your news. Where did you go, who did you see, what did they say, what do you think?
If you don't know where to begin, start with the present moment: I'm sitting at the kitchen table on a rainy Saturday morning. Everyone is gone and the house is quiet. Let your simple description of the present moment lead to something else, let the letter drift gently along.
The toughest letter to crank out is one that is meant to impress, as we all know from writing job applications; if it's hard work to slip off a letter to a friend, maybe you're trying too hard to be terrific. A letter is only a report to someone who already likes you for reasons other than your brilliance. Take it easy.
Don't worry about form. It's not a term paper. When you come to the end of one episode, just start a new paragraph. You can go from a few lines about the sad state of pro football to your fond memories of Mexico to your cat's urinary tract infection to a few thoughts on personal indebtedness and on to the kitchen sink and what's in it. The more you write, the easier it gets, and when you have a True True Friend to write to, a compadre, a soul sibling, then it's like driving a car down a country road, you just get behind the keyboard and press on the gas.
Don't tear up the page and start over when you write a bad line - try to write your way out of it. Make mistakes and plunge on. Let the letter cook along and let yourself be bold. Outrage, confusion, love - whatever is in your mind, let it find a way on to the page. Writing is a means of discovery, always, and when you come to the end and write Yours ever or Hugs and kisses, you'll know something you didn't when you wrote Dear Pal.
Probably your friend will put your letter away, and it'll be read again a few years from now - and it will improve with age. And forty years from now, your friend's grandkids will dig it out of the attic and read it, a sweet and precious relic of the ancient eighties that gives them a sudden clear glimpse of you and her and the world we old-timers knew. You will then have created an object of art. Your simple lines about where you went, who you saw, what they said, will speak to those children and they will feel in their hearts the humanity of our times.
You can't pick up a phone and call the future and tell them about our times. You have to pick up a piece of paper.
PURCHASE the book 'We Are Still Married' >>>
Praise for the book:
“Garrison Keillor made it possible, after twenty years of black humor…to be both funny and nice, hip and winsome, scathing and loving, all in the flick of a single many-barbed quip——The Washington Post Book World
“Keillor’s literary style is as flexible and assured as his vocal delivery. It can slip from mood to mood so subtly and quickly you’re never quite sure where you are…. [His] writing has the silvery slip of running water, so graceful and easy it’s hard to believe it can carry so much that is jagged and unresolved. His integrity lies in his not smoothing away those rough edges in the swift current of his prose; they’re bruisingly, sometimes cuttingly there.” —The Village Voice
HOW TO HIRE PROFESSIONAL HACKER TO RETRIEVE BACK LOST CRYPTO WITH (META TECH RECOVERY PRO)
Ask META TECH RECOVERY PRO for help via:
Metatech @ Writeme . Com
contact@metatech-recoverypro.com
WHATSAPP +1 (469) 692‑8049
My elation knew no bounds as my earnings began to surge higher. Intrigued, I increased my investment. This investment firm assured me that I could retrieve my profits after two months. Upon the expiration of those eight weeks, I attempted to access my invested capital, only to discover I was locked out of my account. My cryptocurrency investment had been compromised, and I was then instructed to remit a substantial sum to regain full access to my investment. I was utterly bewildered, as the amount demanded was exorbitant. I implored them to deduct the necessary sum, but my pleas fell on deaf ears. I then sought alternative methods to recover my hijacked crypto assets as time was going by, and my business capital, which I tampered with, was crumbling. I engaged with several crypto recovery specialists, but they all absconded with my funds, leaving me deep in debt. I cannot precisely recall how I encountered META TECH RECOVERY PRO, though I believe it was through Facebook. I contacted them, outlining my situation, and they assured me of a successful recovery, along with a forensic analysis of the data I provided. I harbored some skepticism during my interactions with META TECH RECOVERY PRO, yet they ultimately upheld their commitments. I successfully recovered my hijacked crypto assets, which were returned to my digital wallet. Kudos to the team of META TECH RECOVERY PRO, I really applaud their expertise.
Thank you.
It’s quite unfortunate that too many people have fallen victim to the vast array of online frauds, resulting in large losses, some accountable to life-changing consequences. I was a victim of fraud of about $80,000.00 by two binary platform films, the Ingoinvest binary option and I was devastated and confused. But thank God for my neighbor who introduced me to a legit and certified binary recovery expert company that helped me recover all my lost funds If you have found yourself in the middle of an online losing streak, though the emotions that inevitably accompany those losses can be devastating to your confidence. Do not worry. Contact Recovery Hacker101 (recoveryhacker101@ Gmail com)
I’ve always believed I had a good head for business. My wife, Tina, and I built a successful company in the Netherlands over two decades. By the end of 2024, we were ready to slow down—early retirement, smarter investments, and time to enjoy life.
That nearly vanished in a single mistake.
We had been watching the crypto space for years. In early 2025, we decided to invest—nothing risky, just to diversify. A platform came highly recommended. It looked legitimate, had strong performance claims, and offered dedicated support. After two weeks of research and discussions, we invested €150,000 in Bitcoin.
At first, everything seemed fine. The dashboard showed gains. We received regular updates from a personal manager. Then came requests: first a “security verification fee,” then a “tax clearance.” Before we knew it, the dashboard froze and support disappeared. The silence was devastating. We felt foolish. We were cautious people—how did we fall for this?
Late one night, I came across a thread mentioning Morphohack Cyber Service. No big promises, just quiet testimonials. Tina reached out. They responded within hours, requesting every bit of information. Their cyber team traced the funds using blockchain analytics and digital forensics. In less than 48 hours, we got a message: “Recovery in process. Funds secure.”
We checked our cold wallet. €148,000 had been recovered. Morphohack didn’t just get our money back, they restored our peace of mind. Since then, we’ve shared our story to help others. Scams don’t just take money, they steal your trust. But recovery is possible. Morphohack can be reached via E-mail: Morphohack@cyberservices.com
HIRE CRYPTO PANDEMIC HUNTER FOR CHEATING SPOUSE INVESTIGATION
For months, I felt like I was losing my mind. An unsettling feeling always troubling me, a constant suspicion about my ex-wife’s fidelity. I was trapped in a cycle of doubt, constantly questioning her actions and motives. It was exhausting and isolating, and I felt like I was going crazy.
That was until I discovered Crypto Pandemic Hunter. Desperate for answers and tired of living in a state of anxiety, I reached out, hoping they could provide some clarity. I was skeptical, of course, but willing to try anything to either confirm my fears or finally put them to rest outweighed my reservations.
To my surprise, Crypto Pandemic Hunter delivered. Through their discreet and professional investigation, they uncovered concrete evidence that validated my deepest concerns – my wife was indeed having an affair with a colleague. The phone calls between them and emails they exchanged presented me with undeniable proof.
The revelation was painful, but in a strange way, it was also a relief. The constant questioning, the self-doubt, the feeling of being gaslit – it was all finally over. I wasn’t crazy. My instincts had been right all along.
Prepared with the evidence provided by Crypto Pandemic Hunter, I was finally able to stop second-guessing myself and file for divorce with confidence. It was a difficult decision, but knowing the truth allowed me to move forward with clarity and conviction.
I am incredibly grateful to Crypto Pandemic Hunter for their professionalism, discretion, and ultimately, for helping me uncover the truth. They helped me reclaim my peace and begin the process of healing and moving forward with my life.
cryptopandemichunter@consultant.com
As a social media enthusiast, I was drawn in by brokers from a company called Fx Money that I met on Reddit. They cleverly used fake success stories to entice new investors. Their persuasive testimonials painted a picture of financial success that seemed too good to be true. The brokers presented themselves as seasoned experts, sharing impressive charts and glowing reviews from supposed clients. I was captivated; they seemed trustworthy, and I let my guard down, thinking I had finally found a legitimate opportunity to grow my savings. Everything appeared to go smoothly. I invested a modest amount, and for a while, it seemed like my funds were growing. The brokers at Fx Money provided regular updates, showcasing my “profits” and encouraging me to invest more. They emphasized the urgency of the market, claiming that the best opportunities were fleeting. Feeling a mix of excitement and greed, I took their advice, pouring in additional funds. However, the joy was short-lived. When I tried to withdraw some of my earnings, the brokers suddenly became unresponsive. They claimed technical issues were preventing withdrawals and assured me that my funds were secure. Days turned into weeks, and my anxiety grew. After a while, it became painfully clear that I had fallen victim to a scam. Realizing the extent of my loss was devastating. I felt embarrassed and ashamed, wondering how I could have been so naive. Seeking help, I discovered Digital Gold Hunter, a service that specializes in helping victims of online scams. They promised a systematic approach to recover lost funds and restore some semblance of normalcy. I reached out to Digital Gold Hunter on
Email: Digitalgoldhunter@tech-center.com
whats App: +1 908 991 7132
sharing my story in detail. Their team was understanding and professional, offering insights into how these scams operate and the tactics fraudsters use to exploit unsuspecting individuals. They explained the importance of gathering evidence and documentation related to my case. Together, we compiled transaction records, communication logs, and screenshots of Fx Money’s fraudulent claims. The recovery process involved various steps, including filing complaints with relevant authorities and reaching out to payment providers. While the journey was fraught with uncertainty, Digital Gold Hunter provided the support I desperately needed. They kept me informed throughout the process, helping me understand each stage and manage my expectations. This experience taught me a valuable lesson about vigilance and the importance of thorough research before investing. No opportunity is worth the risk of losing hard-earned money, especially when it comes from sources that seem too good to be true. I now approach investments with a more skeptical eye, and I encourage others to do the same. The online world can be a treacherous place, but with awareness and caution, we can protect ourselves from falling into similar traps.