And all our children are above average

 

 

You know, sometimes we brag about our kids.  But while we’re doing it, talking with someone about our kids or our families, when it feels like we’re getting too boastful, I’ll quote the final line from Garrison Keillor, as he’s waxing eloquently about his fictional small town of Lake Wobegon.  He would conclude each episode with “Well, that's the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.”, a nod to small-town pride and self-delusion.  As an acknowledgement that maybe we’ve gone a little far in our praise, I quote that line, “All our children are above average”.

 

Only recently have I considered that maybe not everyone we talk to is conversant with Garrison Keillor and Lake Wobegon.  After all, the last live broadcast of the show was in 2016.  The people who remember Garrison Keillor will get it when I say it.  For every person who has never heard of Garrison Keillor or Lake Wobegon though, my effort to deflect will have come off as even more annoying.

 

Oops.

 

Maybe before I repeat that line in the future, I should first quiz our intended audience about their past PBS listening habits…