Happy to Be Here is a collection of short stories by Garrison Keillor, first published in hardcover by Viking in 1981. It is Keillor's first attempt at publishing a full-length book. Many of the stories first appeared in magazines Keillor wrote for between 1969 and 1981. The work focuses mainly on the everyday lives of ordinary people, especially in Minnesota and North Dakota. Among them are musings about trains, baseball, politics, farming, marriage, and the rights of shy people.
Contents
First publication in brackets, assume in The New Yorker unless stated otherwise. "The Tip-Top Club", "Jack Schmidt on the Burning Sands", "The New Washington: An Inside Story", "My Stepmother, Myself" and "After a Fall" did not appear in the first edition, but only from 1983.
Part One
"Jack Schmidt, Arts Administrator" - An ex-private investigator describes his career change and the challenges he faces as an arts administrator in Minneapolis to thirty-seven arts organizations.
"Don: The True Story of a Young Person" - 17-year-old Don, lead singer of a punk rock group Trash must decide between his music and family as his group becomes infamous for 'eating a live chicken' on stage.
"WLT " - - An account of the early years of radio station WLT founded in 1925 by Edgar and Roy Elmore to promote, Elmore Court, their up-market Minneapolis 'sandwich palace'..
"The Slim Graves show" - A fan tells of an early morning radio show sponsored by Sunrise Waffles in which the breakdown of Slim's marriage to Billie Ann is played out in front of the show's listeners who vote to decide whether Billie Ann should remain with Slim or leave him for 'Courteous Carl Harper the Guitar Man'.
"Friendly Neighbor" - The story of Walter "Dad" Bensons radio show on station WLT and later broadcast nationally, as told by his nephew on the occasion of the Dad Benson Friendship Dinner, held every other year, alternating between Chaffee, North Dakota and Freeport, Minnesota.
"The Tip-top club" - The history of a popular radio show on WLT, hosted by Bud Swenson for 25 years until his retirement 1969, and its subsequent decline.
"Jack Schmidt on the Burning Sands" - Jack Schmidt recounts being sacked from his position as an arts administrator followed by the revelation that 'oil money' from the Gulf States could resurrect his career.
"My North Dakota Railroad Days" - The story of the "Prairie Queen" an express rail service which ran east from Fargo, North Dakota told in retrospect by its conductor. The train ran for twelve years until disaster struck in 1942.
Part Two
"Attitude" - Criticizing the attitude of the players of a Slow-pitch softball team and suggesting rules to be followed.
"U.S. Still on Top, Says Rest of World" - It's 1971 and for the 28th year running, the United States is named Number One Country as voted for by the Association of World Leaders.
"Congress in Crisis: The Proximity Bill" - Congressmen are being manhandled by dissident individuals and so plan a draconian bill to prevent such contact.
"Re the Tower Project" - The company reassures its personnel that the Tower project in Washington will still go ahead.
"How It Was in America a Week Ago Tuesday" - Considers a magazine article attempting to reflect the myriad different events occurring across America one Tuesday.
"Mission to Mandala" - Army comic book parody including letters to the editors and their replies.
"Nana Hami Ba Reba" - The narrator is responsible for the total metrification of America in 1984, including time and language but is finding hard to cope with the latest changes.
Part Four
"My Stepmother, Myself" As step-mothers face increasing discrimination, a case is made in their defence, with testimony from Snow White, Gretel and Cinderella.
"Plainfolks" - Excerpts from a 12th grade project interviewing local people covering subjects like bookcases, smoke rings, snowmen, model railways and car customization.
"People's Shopper" - Statements from various local alternative forward-thinking establishments.
"Your Wedding and You" - Discusses the trend for 'new weddings' and 'alternative weddings' with specific examples.
"Shy Rights: Why Not Pretty Soon" - A call for the rights of shy people to be recognized.
"Lowliest Bush a Purple Sage would be" - The world of nature, literally speaking to poets who are willing to listen.
"Local Family Keeps Son Happy" - A live in prostitute is hired by a family for their 16-year-old son.
"Oya Life These Days" - Anthropological study of the Oya people is made difficult by their tendency to gather round the scholar asking questions.
"Your Transit Commission" - Innovative changes transform the bus service into 'an experience unto itself'.
"Be Careful" - After fears over the fall of Skylab, a plea for people to eliminate danger in their daily lives.
"Ten Stories for Mr. Richard Brautigan, and Other Stories" - Ten vignettes in the style of Richard Brautigan.
Part Five
"After a Fall" - the author recounts the real and imagined dangers of falling for tall people, from personal experience.
"Drunkard's Sunday" - The highs and lows of a drunkard's typical Sunday.
"Happy to Be Here" - A writer moves from the city to a farm and adjusts his writing style to suit.
"Drowning 1954" - After the narrator's cousin drowns in Lake Independence, his mother insists he takes twice-weekly swimming lessons, but instead he watches Cedric Adams in a WCCO radio show.
