Happy to Be Here

Happy to Be Here

Company type	Book
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1981
Founder	Garrison Keillor
Products	Short story anthology

Happy to Be Here is a short story anthology by Garrison Keillor, initially released in hardcover format by Viking in 1981. This volume represents Keillor's debut full-length publication, featuring numerous stories that first appeared in magazines from 1969 through 1981.

The anthology focuses on the everyday experiences of common individuals, primarily set in Minnesota and North Dakota. It explores subjects including trains, baseball, politics, farming, marriage, and the rights of reserved personalities.

Contents

Publication dates indicated in parentheses mostly refer to appearances in The New Yorker. The 1983 edition introduced "The Tip-Top Club," "Jack Schmidt on the Burning Sands," "The New Washington: An Inside Story," "My Stepmother, Myself," and "After a Fall." This edition also eliminated a five-page introduction and rearranged the sequence of two stories: placing "Railroad Days" immediately after "Don," and following "How It Was in America" with "Shy Rights."

Part One

• "Jack Schmidt, Arts Administrator" (Apr 30, 1979) – A former private detective manages thirty-seven arts organizations in Minneapolis, navigating his administrative responsibilities.
• "Don: The True Story of a Young Person" (May 30, 1977) – Seventeen-year-old Don, frontman of punk band Trash, struggles to balance his rising musical fame with family obligations.
• "WLT (The Edgar Era)" (Apr 12, 1976) – Details the establishment of radio station WLT in 1925 by Edgar and Roy Elmore as a promotional tool for their upscale Minneapolis sandwich shop. This narrative and others inspired Keillor's 1991 novel WLT: A Radio Romance.
• "The Slim Graves Show" (Feb 10, 1973) – A morning radio program sponsored by Sunrise Waffles broadcasts the unraveling of Slim’s marriage, with audience participation determining Billie Ann’s fate.
• "Friendly Neighbor" (Dec 31, 1973) – Walter "Dad" Benson’s WLT radio show gains nationwide recognition; his nephew recounts this during the biennial Dad Benson Friendship Dinner alternating between Chaffee, North Dakota and Freeport, Minnesota.
• "The Tip-Top Club" (The Atlantic Monthly, Aug 1981) – Chronicles the history of a beloved WLT radio program hosted by Bud Swenson for twenty-five years until his retirement in 1969 and its subsequent decline.
• "Jack Schmidt on the Burning Sands" (Twin Cities, Jan 1981) – Jack Schmidt contemplates losing his arts administrator position and considers potential revival funded by Gulf States oil revenues.
• "My North Dakota Railroad Days" (Dec 01, 1975) – A conductor narrates the tale of the "Prairie Queen," an express train service from Fargo, North Dakota, which operated for twelve years before a catastrophic event in 1942.

Part Two

• "Attitude" (Aug 27, 1979) – Offers criticism of a Slow-pitch softball team’s behavior and proposes rule changes to enhance sportsmanship.
• "Around the Horne" (Sep 30, 1974) – A sports writer evaluates the weaknesses of the local baseball team.
• "The New Baseball" (May 15, 1971) – Examines potential future developments in baseball through exaggerated hypothetical scenarios.
• "How Are the Legs, Sam" (Jan 30, 1971) – A man reflects on his limitations as a baseball player.

Part Three

• "The New Washington: An Inside Story" (Oct 26, 1981) – During a bus tour highlighting the excesses of the Reagan administration, Vice President George Bush adopts a covert role.
• "U.S. Still on Top, Says Rest of World" (Oct 2, 1971) – For the 28th straight year, the United States is recognized as the Number One Country by the Association of World Leaders.
• "Congress in Crisis: The Proximity Bill" (Apr 7, 1973) – In response to attacks by dissidents, Congress proposes stringent legislation aimed at preventing physical altercations among members.
• "Re the Tower Project" (Aug 28, 1971) – Company officials assure employees that the Washington Tower initiative will continue as scheduled.
• "How It Was in America a Week Ago Tuesday" (Mar 10, 1975) – A review of a magazine feature capturing a wide array of events occurring across America on a single day.
• "Mission to Mandala" (May 25, 1981) – A satirical Army comic book presenting letters to editors alongside their replies.
• "Nana Hami Ba Reba" (Feb 4, 1980) – Describes the obstacles encountered in fully implementing metrication across America by 1984, including adjustments in timekeeping and language.

Part Four

• "My Stepmother, Myself" (The Atlantic Monthly, Mar 1982) – Advocates for stepmothers facing increasing prejudice, featuring testimonies from characters such as Snow White, Gretel, and Cinderella.
• "Plainfolks" (Nov 4, 1974) – Selections from a 12th grade project that interviews community members about subjects like bookcases, smoke rings, snowmen, model trains, and car customization.
• "People's Shopper" (Feb 24, 1973) – Perspectives from various local businesses known for their alternative and progressive approaches.
• "Your Wedding and You" (Jun 16, 1975) – An analysis of emerging 'new' and 'alternative' wedding customs with detailed examples.
• "Shy Rights: Why Not Pretty Soon" – A call for acknowledgment and protection of the rights of shy individuals.
• "Lowliest Bush a Purple Sage would be" – Nature communicates directly with poets who are willing to listen.
• "Local Family Keeps Son Happy" (1970) – A family employs a live-in prostitute to support their teenage son’s happiness.
• "Oya Life These Days" (Feb 17, 1975) – An anthropological report complicated by the Oya people's curiosity toward researchers.
• "Your Transit Commission" (The Atlantic Monthly, May 1981) – Details innovative reforms transforming bus transit into an engaging user experience.
• "Be Careful" (Aug 6, 1979) – In light of concerns about Skylab’s descent, urges the public to minimize everyday hazards.
• "Ten Stories for Mr. Richard Brautigan, and Other Stories" (Mar 18, 1972) – A collection of ten short pieces inspired by Richard Brautigan.

Part Five

• "After a Fall" (Jun 21, 1982) – The author examines both actual and perceived dangers associated with falling for tall individuals through personal anecdotes.
• "Drunkard's Sunday" (Feb 28, 1982) – Portrays the shifting emotional states experienced by a habitual drinker on a typical Sunday.
• "Happy to Be Here" (Sep 18, 1971, originally titled Found Paradise) – Chronicles a writer’s transition from urban living to farming life and how this shift influences his writing style.
• "Drowning 1954" (Aug 16, 1976) – After his cousin drowns in Lake Independence, the narrator’s mother insists on swimming lessons; however, he chooses instead to listen to Cedric Adams on WCCO radio.