16 Comments

Another evening with whiskey and Donkey Thoughts. The talk about the stools got me thinking about how beautiful wood is, then I landed on how ugly engineered wood is, and how that's probably somehow related to the fact that it loses its 'soul'? And now here I am wondering if lab-grown meat will taste like engineered wood feels, when we all inevitably switch to it.

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Your giggle makes me happy every day but today, after learning a friend since 1954 lost her husband to cancer two days week, you took me out of mourning for a few moments. Now to collect my thoughts and dry away my tears of sadness... ty for helping.

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Your Donkey Thoughts always evoke such wonderful emotional memories and tickle all the senses, which got me thinking... We very often associate music with memories, but more often for me, smells trigger my nostalgia. What scents or smells will instantly whisk you away to another time or place?

Thank you - Sally from San Diego.

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Thanks for the info about the documentary! When I read Wendell Berry, I feel like I'm going to church (in the most agnostic way possible).

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The Berry bench is a treat to see - - I too like to do projects where I 'use what the tree gives me.' I suspect you know what I am about to say, but heck, here goes. You may like the work created by George Nakashima of Bucks County, PA; https://nakashimawoodworkers.com/ If not familiar I heartily recommend you take a gander at some of his stuff, done by I think a kindred spirit.

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Dana, you have a good nose. I wrote a chapter on George in my book GUMPTION, then I profiled his heroic daughter Mira in my next book GOOD CLEAN FUN. The Nakashima family and their idyllic studio in New Hope, PA have been very influential for me.

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I believe these wee nuggets are getting better and better. They remain a highlight to any working day or an inspiration to any weekend. Stop signs are now strictly adhered to....

Long may your posts continue, maybe if I paid up, they would stand a better chance of doing just that. Best wishes from Toronto :-)

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Let me join the chorus in praising your not remotely mediocre giggle laugh. Makes me smile every time :D.

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Hi Nick, I had forgotten about Wendell Berry. Will have to pull out his books again.

I'm from Minooka then in 1978 or so moved to Lockport and now in Carlsbad, CA

By the way, what ever happened to Teepee Hut?

Sheri (Steffes) Menelli

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And I do remember you in second grade goofing around with Brad Sprague and also doing the eyebrow thing behind the priest at Mass when you were not quite an angelic alter boy.

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Hey, let's keep some indiscretions under our hats! you wanna get me excommunicated? I found some yearbook shots and will be posting them soon. I know some librarians.

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OMG - I have no yearbooks or class photos from Minooka. I think my grandma Steffes who taught there had them but she passed. Please post! Thanks much Nick!

By the way, our dads went to ISU together and your parents used to come over to play cards.

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Nick - Thank you for these nuggets, I look forward to hearing your voice/seeing your face every week! I love your giggly laugh!

Question from my daughter and I - do you believe in an afterlife? why or why not?

From - Susan and Emily in NJ

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Way coolio!

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This listener from Alabama would compliment your Wendell Berry reading list with some Murray Bookchin. Thanks for the ongoing excellence.

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Well-played, sir!

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