The Writer’s Almanac

Some of my students will recall me ‘pimping’ “The Writer’s Almanac”. Well, I’m at it again. It’s a great daily source of poetry, inspiration, and background on writers (for example, did you know that today is the birthday of writer-director Nora Ephron)?

At the website, you can sign up to have The Writer’s Almanac delivered via email. They also have podcasts of host Garrison Keillor’s radio versions. 

As Garrison says at the end of each Almanac broadcast, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

UPDATE: I was driving with my oldest son, Will, and his girlfriend, Caitlin, the other day. We were listening to “Passenger Seat” by Death Cab for Cutie, the first verse:

“I roll the window down
And then begin to breathe in
The darkest country road
And the strong scent of evergreen
From the passenger seat as you are driving me home.”

Caitlin asked, “Why are there so many songs about country roads?” We started listing them — James Taylor’s “Country Road”, John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads”. I suggested perhaps because roads are a metaphor for life’s journey.

Well, if you go to today’s Writer’s Almanac (Tuesday, May 20), there’s a poem by Stephen Dunn called “Looking for a Rest Area”. Road = life journey right there.