Celebrate MPR's 30th Anniversary

MPR and Me: 5

Congratulations to you on the momentous occasion of Station No. 30 and the 30th Anniversary of MPR, a wonderful educational and cultural broadcast service for the residents of our region.
Thank you for the quality and consistency of the news and information and classical music programming. We listeners are lucky to have your leadership in bringing to us the best of both radio and Internet communication.
Ginger Sisco

I have been a non-stop listener and supporter of public radio since July of 1983, when I returned to Minnesota after 10 months on the island of Madagascar.
During those 10 months all I could get on the radio was Voice of America. I happened onto MPR quite by chance shortly after my return. The classical music affected me much as bread affects a starving person or as water affects a desert land. I left the radio on all night even - just couldn't get enough.
Now I have six radios strategically placed throughout my home, all tuned to MPR. My two stations are KLSE and KZSE Rochester. I promote public radio listening among my students at Riverland Community College, where I teach.
Virginia Larsen, Austin, MN

You are providing a great program, there is not a single radio station that provides such a valuable and quality program. Your staff are almost like my day-to-day friends, I know their voices so well, they are true professionals with decent language and care for listeners. As a Buddhist I wish you the blessing of Noble Triple Gem (Budda, Dhamma, and Sangha) for long life. Thanks for good work
Srilal

I was happy to be reminded to think about my favorite memory listening to MPR.
About 10 years ago, when my son was five, he was fond of starting the morning earlier than I and my husband wanted. Danny started crawling in bed next to me, and we would listen to the Morning Program on the radio. We laughed so hard at the Mr. Science bits and the wonderful other humor. Sometimes the sport scores made us giggle til we missed whatever was next. We always enjoyed the odd music. This became our routine which we modified as Dan started school. Dan and I even had a chance to go the Morning Program when it was broadcast here at Glensheen Mansion, and another year at St. Scholastica. Of course, now we listen to the same program as we awake on our own beds, but I will always be grateful for those precious times together.
Thank you. I wonder for how long families will be able to remember listening to comedy/music programs together.
Pamela M. Crouse, Duluth, MN

We only listen to MPR and it's on all the time, so it's hard to select out one memory but here's one I think you'll enjoy:
I went to Prairie Home Companion in the Sculpture Garden one Saturday afternoon in St. Paul long, long ago and it happened to be Garrison Keillor's 40th birthday. I sat fairly close to the front near the "sort of a stage." As usual, the show had many funny and entertaining moments; in particular, a song Vern Sutton and (I think it was) Stevie Beck sang for Garrison about turning 40. I laughed and laughed and I've been told that I do have a rather distinctive laugh. Anyway, as soon as I got home, the phone started ringing. First, friends from California called and asked if I had been at PHC that afternoon because they could hear me laughing in the background--and they had taped the show. They sent me the tape and, sure enough, you can hear me laughing in the background! (I still have the tape.) Then a friend from Chicago called, then a friend from Red Wing and several friends from the Twin Cities.
So that is one memory among many. I'm so glad you exist! We look forward to the years ahead with our Minnesota Public Radio!
Ruth Wingeier, Long Prairie MN

This happened while I was working for a large local computer company.
I was driving to work onemorning, listening to the Morning Show, and heard the guys work through a humorous skit - Computer Witch Doctor.
The skit made me laugh, and held my attention down the highway, around the corners, into the parking lot, and into an empty spot. I turned the engine off, and continued laughing until the end of the skit. I grabbed my briefcase, got out of the car, slammed the door shut, and heard the sound of a long row of car doors being closed by laughing engineers and programmers.
Like the song says, "Thanks for the memories."
Cheers,
Eric B. Adams

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