(GK: Garrison Keillor; SS: Sue Scott; TR: Tim Russell; FN: Fred Newman)
(GUITAR)
GK:
Who knows how long I've loved you
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime
If you want me to I will
For if I ever saw you
I didn't catch your name
But it never really mattered
I will always feel the same
SS: Honey?
GK: Yeah?
SS: Are you listening?
GK: Mmmhmm.
SS: That rental car you reserved in Jacksonville?
GK: Yes?
SS: It's not a convertible, is it?
GK: You don't want a convertible?
SS: You didn't order a convertible-----
GK: Well, if I did, I'll change it.
SS: They're extremely unsafe.
GK: I'll change it.
SS: All the articles on car safety point that out. What time is our flight, by the way? Is it one o'clock?
GK: One o'clock.
SS: Would you mind if we get to the airport early?
GK: How early?
SS: They say you should allow two hours-----
GK: For a flight to Jacksonville?
SS: With security and everything----
GK: Whatever you think.
SS: Well, you know ---- I just don't like to be in a big rush.
GK: Fine.
SS: You think two hours is too much?
GK: No. I'll bring a book. We can shop. We can buy Minnesota souvenirs to take to your sister. Bags of wild rice. Birdhouses.
SS: I'm sorry. I get anxious---- I hate rushing.
GK: It's okay.
SS: Don't be angry with me.
GK: I'm not.
SS: You are, too.
GK: Not angry at all.
For if I ever saw you
I didn't catch your name
But it never really mattered
I will always feel the same
SS: Jacksonville is in the north of Florida, right?
GK: Right. Just above St. Augustine.
SS: St. Augustine is supposed to be pretty.
GK: Yeah.
SS: Is the condo in St. Augustine?
GK: No, it's in Jacksonville.
SS: On the beach?
GK: On a river.
SS: Oh. Well, that'll be nice.
GK: Sure.
SS: You wanted to go to Sarasota, didn't you.
GK: Jacksonville is fine.
SS: But you wanted to go to Sarasota.
GK: It's okay.
SS: I'm sorry.
GK: It's okay.
SS: I just feel like I have to visit my sister.
GK: Right.
SS: I haven't seen her for ---- two years.
GK: I understand.
SS: I mean, we keep going to Florida and we never go to Jacksonville to see them and-----
GK: It's okay.
SS: You're bringing sun block, right?
GK: The paper says it's cloudy and rainy in Jacksonville. Don't think I'll need it.
SS: We better bring some with----
GK: I'll get some in Jacksonville.
SS: Just don't forget, okay? You burn really easily.
GK: Right.
SS: Are you bringing a hat?
GK: I was going to bring my Twins cap.
SS: Your old Twins cap?
GK: It's not that old.
SS: What's wrong with that boating cap I gave you for your birthday?
GK: The white one with the anchor insignia on it? That says, "Rear Admiral, Retired."? It's fine.
SS: It's cute. I never see you wear it.
GK: Oh? I wear it.
SS: Where?
GK: Different places.
Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart
SS: Are you glad we're going to Florida?
GK: Sure. Sit in our little condo on the river and read books and wear sunblock and wear my white nautical hat and go to your sister's for dinner----
SS: I like her husband. Jimmy. He's nice.
GK: Sure.
SS: I don't think it was his idea to join that cult they're in----
GK: Well, it'll be okay.
SS: What is it called? The Church of The Universal Mind----
GK: The Unified Mind, I think. It's some druid thing. Wiccan. Something.
SS: I mean, she is my sister, after all.
GK: Sure. They're vegan, right?
SS: Right. And they hum.
GK: I remember the humming
SS: It's a meditation thing. They hum. And there's deep breathing. They sound like badgers in heat.
GK: It's fine.
SS: And they do things with crystals. Stones and things.
GK: Don't worry about it.
SS: She's weird but she's my sister.
GK: It's okay.
SS: We'll have a meal with them and then we don't have to see them again for a whole year.
GK: It'll be fine.
SS: She is such a pill and I have to drag you to see her and ruin your whole vacation.
GK:
Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart---
SS: The rental car isn't a convertible, is it----
GK: I don't know. I think maybe it is. I'll change it.
SS: They're so unsafe.
GK: I'll take care of it.
SS: I'm sorry.
GK: It's fine.
SS: I shouldn't have said anything. I just worry. I'm nervous about flying and ------- terrorism ----- and a war starting ----- and driving around in a convertible ----- I mean, what if a bomb went off? What would happen?
GK: I guess it depends on how close we were.
SS: I just want things to be nice, that's all.
GK: It will be.
SS: You don't think I'm insane?
GK: No.
SS: Maybe we should stay home.
GK: Everything's fine. We're going to have a great time. We'll have lots of extra time at the airport and it'll be warm in Florida but it's northern Florida so it won't be baking hot and we'll stay out of the sun and I'll wear my rear admiral's cap and enjoy driving a safe car and we'll meet your sister and learn some humming and breathing and we'll eat beans and rice and come home.
SS: You're looking forward to being with me for two weeks, aren't you?
GK: Yes, of course.
SS: Do you think there's going to be a war?
GK: Between you and your sister?
SS: No. In Iraq. I hate to even think about it.
GK:
And when at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you
Make it easy to be near you
For the things you do endear me to you
Ah, you know I will
I will.
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la.
© Garrison Keillor 2003