The Writer's Almanac

It makes sense that my 100th post would be about writing, doesn't it?

One of the things I love to do everyday is to listen to The Writer's Almanac podcast. Garrison Keillor's hypnotic, soothing voice just lulls me into a relaxed state. We're nowhere in the same political hemisphere, but I love to hear him speak. He could read his grocery list and I'd listen.

The podcasts are all about 5 minutes long and I always learn the niftiest little factoids! And each podcast is closed with a short poem.

Today's factoids:

Sunday of this week is the anniversary of William the Conquerer's arrival on British soil in 1066 (The Norman Invasion). The English language evolved greatly after this, introducing Latin words into the mostly Germanic language.

Today is the birthday of novelist Fay Weldon.

In 1862 on this day, Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation.

In 1776 Nathan Hale was executed for espionage. "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country!"

Here is one of my favorite poems from a 2006 podcast:

Poem: "Coconut" by Paul Hostovsky from Bird in the Hand. © Grayson Books.

Coconut

Bear with me I
want to tell you
something about
happiness
it's hard to get at
but the thing is
I wasn't looking
I was looking
somewhere else
when my son found it
in the fruit section
and came running
holding it out
in his small hands
asking me what
it was and could we
keep it it only
cost 99 cents
hairy and brown
hard as a rock
and something swishing
around inside
and what on earth
and where on earth
and this was happiness
this little ball
of interest beating
inside his chest
this interestedness
beaming out
from his face pleading
happiness
and because I wasn't
happy I said
to put it back
because I didn't want it
because we didn't need it
and because he was happy
he started to cry
right there in aisle
five so when we
got home we
put it in the middle
of the kitchen table
and sat on either
side of it and began
to consider how
to get inside of it.