Did you grow up in North Dakota, Minnesota, or even Wisconsin? If so, you have to have bits and pieces of Garrison Keilor in your head. I just read Pontoon and found it to be not only entertaining but reminiscent of my youth in Minnesota and North Dakota. Sorry Montana, you weren't even close when it came to stoic Lutherans, Norwegians or even the Irish Catholics who took on the persona of the culture.
How does Keilor know my mother spent a great deal of time feeding sunflower seeds to the birds? How did he learn the off-beat sense of humor we all grew up with? And how did he know Aunt Alice had a tire in her front yard filled with Petunias and Pansies accompanied by two plywood cutouts of fat folks bending over? Thank goodness he has learned to write it down so none of us forget our upbringing and what motivated us to Fly!! Just a few quotes...
“Life is so dear, dear heart, Live it with Gallantry.”
“Life is unjust and this is what makes it so beautiful. Every day is a gift. Be brave and take hold of it.”

“Don’t sink boy. Fly. That’s an old lady’s advice. Fly.
How many of us flew and left the north country for warmer climes but feel a real loss when we think of the culture?
Of course there are those who stayed and continue the ways of the stoic Lutheran. They are the ones who believe everything they read and only read what is dismal and depressing. For them , my recommendation is read Pontoon and skip snoopes for today. Become enlightened and laugh for that is what makes life worthwhile.
Be sure to visit Chahinkapa.com for fun and fancy gifts from Florida. Also read all the blogs and don't forget destinationsinflorida.com if you want to get away from it all and spend some fantasy time at Disney. I wonder if Disney has every considered a Keilor section for Epcot...right near the Norwegian center. Just a thought for the day.