News from Oct 27, 1984

10.27.84Carl Krebsbach’s brother, Lyle, bought a new car this week from a St. Cloud dealer. The little red foreign car was not available in Lake Wobegon. Lyle saw a picture of this car in a magazine and he just had to have it. On Tuesday, the car wouldn’t start because someone put a potato up the tailpipe. Lyle has lived in town for twelve years so he’s still seen as an outsider. He needs some friendship.The host was at the Sidetrack Tap a while back playing the baseball pinball machine and doing pretty well but lost his last ball. Carl put his hand on his shoulder, which almost brought him to tears. Lyle walks into the Sidetrack and he still has to give his order when Wally knows the order of all the regulars.The high point of the week was the show put on by the Lundeen’s Gospel Birds up at the church. Attendance had been getting smaller and smaller so they needed to do something. The Deacons called a Christian booking company to book events at the church. Ernie and Irma Lundeen and the Performing Gospel Birds was the program on Wednesday. The church was packed. Ernie and Irma walked out in white satin outfits and they were covered in live birds. The birds were singing at the top of their voices. As Ernie bowed his head, the birds went silent. It was a 45-minute program full of flying and swooping and singing. The birds — dressed in little animal outfits — reenacted the Noah’s Ark story. It was stunning. The birds then took up the collection as people held up dollar bills. Then little parakeets played “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” on tiny silver bells. Finally, Irma said she was going to send the birds out to people as they were praying, and a bird would land on their shoulders. It was the blessing of the birds, and everyone felt blessed by this event.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit garrisonkeillor.substack.com/subscribe