420: Coffee with Mom—Merry Freakin’ Christmas!

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
Episode 420: Coffee with Mom—Merry Freakin’ Christmas!
Release Date: December 20, 2024

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Introduction

In Episode 420 of The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe, host Mike Rowe engages in a heartfelt and humorous conversation with his mother, Peggy Rowe, and co-host Chuck Klausmeier. The episode, aptly titled "Coffee with Mom—Merry Freakin’ Christmas!", delves into family dynamics, Christmas reflections, and memorable anecdotes, all seasoned with Mike's signature wit.

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Scheduling Shenanigans

Mike and Mom Discuss Visitation Challenges

Mike begins by expressing the complexities of coordinating visits with his family, highlighting the struggles of aligning schedules within their family’s strict meal-times and daily routines.

• Peggy Rowe [02:00]: "You've noticed it. Chuck, I don't know if that's on you or on your business..."

• Mike Rowe [02:34]: "If I tell you in advance I'm there, then I get slugged into whatever neatly ordered schedule drives your existence these days."

This segment underscores the challenges of balancing personal schedules with family expectations, leading to humorous exchanges about meal timings and planning.

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Stories About Brother Scott

Scott’s Engineering Precision and Pool Skills

The conversation shifts to Mike’s brother, Scott, an engineer who recently attended a company Christmas party. Peggy shares amusing stories about Scott's meticulous nature, even in trivial matters like repairing a garment bag handle.

• Peggy Rowe [08:19]: "Scott was carrying a garment bag with his party outfit... The handle came off."

• Mike Rowe [10:00]: "I would have never brought a party outfit in the first place."

Chuck adds his admiration for Scott’s engineering prowess, contrasting it with his own less coordinated nature.

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Pool and Karaoke Adventures

Nostalgic Tales from North Hollywood Billiards

Mike and Chuck reminisce about their days playing pool at North Hollywood Billiards, affectionately nicknamed "Trumpet Palace" due to the mariachi music often playing from the jukebox.

• Mike Rowe [20:38]: "We discovered all the different things on this jukebox, and we started playing a song by Prince..."

• Chuck Klausmeier [22:43]: Sings: "You sexy mother..."

The duo recount a hilarious karaoke incident where Chuck performed Rick James' "Super Freak," leading to laughter and playful banter about cultural appropriateness and pool hall dynamics.

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Feedback on Peggy’s Book

Handling Criticism with Humor and Grace

Peggy discusses the unexpected success of her book, "Oh, No, Not the Home," and shares a particularly amusing piece of hate mail from a reader criticizing her use of profanity.

• Peppe Rowe [31:12]: "I use a couple of bad words in my book. So I think that might be what Mr. J.L. was referring to."

Mike seamlessly integrates humor by sharing his crafted response to the letter, defending his mother's integrity while playfully addressing the critique.

• Mike Rowe [34:32]: "Please don’t fast forward through their commercials, even ones that you hate. There’s no podcast without a sponsor."

This segment highlights the importance of handling criticism with grace and the bond between mother and son in navigating public feedback.

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Christmas Reflections

Honoring Traditions and Embracing Community

As Christmas approaches, the conversation turns introspective. Peggy shares touching stories about residents at the Oak Crest facility, emphasizing the loneliness and struggles many face during the holiday season.

• Peggy Rowe [50:00]: "Living here at the home has really opened my eyes to the fact that Christmas is a sad time for a lot of people."

Mike reflects on his own feelings about Christmas, questioning the nostalgia often associated with the holiday and acknowledging the pain it can bring.

• Mike Rowe [51:48]: "Do you think people romanticize it? In hindsight, I agree..."

The hosts discuss the significance of community and support, underscoring the true spirit of Christmas beyond material celebrations.

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Meaning of Christmas and Final Wishes

Embracing Faith and Genuine Connections

In the closing segments, Chuck shares his heartfelt Christmas wish, incorporating faith and tradition, which sparks a reflection on the essence of the holiday.

• Chuck Klausmeier [60:49]: "Just remember the reason for the season. John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son."

Peggy concludes with warm wishes, emphasizing the importance of genuine relationships and cherishing moments with loved ones.

• Peggy Rowe [54:35]: "We decided Mr. L was referring to my neighbor's book..."

The episode wraps up with a collective message of love, resilience, and the enduring importance of family and community during the festive season.

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Notable Quotes

• Peggy Rowe [02:34]: "It’s just like, good God, these guys. It's like a train schedule up there."

• Mike Rowe [16:10]: "It's just one of those sports that you can really sink your teeth into, no matter how incompetent you are at it."

• Mike Rowe [34:32]: "She uses a couple of bad words in my book. So I think that might be what Mr. J.L. was referring to."

• Chuck Klausmeier [60:49]: "Just remember the reason for the season. John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son."

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Conclusion

Episode 420 of The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe offers a blend of humor, heartfelt stories, and meaningful reflections on family and the holiday season. Through engaging dialogue and relatable anecdotes, Mike, Peggy, and Chuck create an inviting atmosphere that resonates with listeners, emphasizing the true spirit of Christmas and the importance of cherished relationships.

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Note: Advertisements, as per the user’s instructions, have been excluded from this summary to maintain focus on the core content of the episode.

Transcript

[Mike Rowe]

A cup of coffee with my. With my mom.

[Peggy Rowe]

I think we should all be on the floor with our feet up against the wall.

[Mike Rowe]

It kind of works.

[Peggy Rowe]

Does it help?

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah, it helps. It does. Just takes the pressure off the lower back.

[Peggy Rowe]

You know what? You know how I get relief when I go to bed at night? It really hurts. I'm lying on my back, and if.

[Mike Rowe]

I bring Double Tennessee whiskey, if I.

[Peggy Rowe]

Bring my knees up toward my chin, it feels much better.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Can you get your knees to your chin?

[Peggy Rowe]

I can.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Wow, that's impressive.

[Peggy Rowe]

John can.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I can barely get them to my nape.

[Mike Rowe]

Well, she has to take her legs off.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, no, I take my head off. Well, it's nice to see everybody.

[Mike Rowe]

Mom, it's so nice to see you. This is so weird. People should know. I'm like. I don't know.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Can you see her house from there?

[Mike Rowe]

Almost. I'm looking toward it. I'm probably 20 miles from where you are. I'm downtown Baltimore. I was over there at the home yesterday, and we decided we wanted to do this today because it would be fun to be in person. But of course, you can't do this in person with this Riverside setup. We couldn't be in the same room without actual cameras. So, anyway, I'm here, but not here, if that makes sense.

[Peggy Rowe]

Right. So I did get to see you yesterday. That was a treat.

[Mike Rowe]

Was it? What did you like about it?

[Peggy Rowe]

That you finally got here. What is so exasperating about you, Mike, is that.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Let's get right to it.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, oh, let me get my list. Number one is that you seem to find it very difficult to make a commitment to when you're doing something. I don't know.

[Mike Rowe]

Is that so?

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, you've noticed it. Chuck, I don't know if that's on you or on your business, but you've been in town for several days, and you were unable to tell me exactly which day you were coming to visit me. And when you finally told me the day, you couldn't give me an approximate time, which makes my planning a little difficult because I wanted to take you to lunch and, you know. But anyway, I've gotten used to it. I know you'll never change.

[Mike Rowe]

Well, look, guilty as charged. But my mistake was simply in telling you I was here. That was the mistake. I didn't come to town specifically to visit you guys. But, you know, I have a rule. If I'm in, you know, the same time zone, I'll always get by. But if I tell you in advance I'm there, then I get Slugged into whatever neatly ordered schedule drives your existence these days. And I'm just looking at the text. What I say on Thursday. I said, hi, Mom. I think the podcast will work fine on Saturday. Today I'm not going to make it up there tonight. I have a dinner downtown. I can't get out of it. Maybe lunch tomorrow, you say, okay, come by for brunch lunch at 11:30 in the Acorn. Scott's running late. He won't be here till 5 o'clock this evening. Fine. And then you write back at 11:40pm that night, which is like way past your bedtime. Mike, we can eat at Lakeside tomorrow. Breakfast is for 8 to 10, lunch is from 11 to 1, so lunch suits us better. We can probably eat at 11 since we will skip breakfast. We have to eat again at 4 with our Friday evening friends. You probably have plans, but if not, you are welcome to join us. So Chuck, if you listen carefully, you'll hear the passive aggression just under the surface. So I wake up the next morning, yesterday, I see this and I say, mom, I've got a breakfast meeting. I'm free after that. I figured I'd come by around 11 or noon. Probably won't be very hungry, but I can join you guys for lunch in the Acorn anyway and hang out for a while. To which mom says, okay, Mike, if quote, working us in is inconvenient, you can do it at some other time maybe. I mean, that's it. Boom, there it is. It's just like, good God, these guys. It's. It's like a train schedule up there. I mean, it's like every 10 minutes there's a meal. Every. There's a different group of dining people. Am I going to fit in with the breakfast people, the lunch people, the brunch people, the pre supper people, the dinner people, the lay. You know, it's a big place, so it takes 15 minutes to walk to wherever they're going. And if you're late, I literally got there. My mom's clutching her bag by the elevator going, oh, well, look who it is. It's just.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Peggy. On a scale from one to entire bs, how close is that?

[Peggy Rowe]

Actually, it's about an eight.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Okay, that's not bad.

[Peggy Rowe]

Good job, Mike. What can I say? It's the rhythm of the home and we are totally immersed and we are at the mercy of. Of the meal schedules. Now, if you come expecting a meal at 1:45, forget it because nothing's open. You know, there are certain hours when we are welcome to come and eat. I mean, they're generous times, but if you're not here, you can't eat. I mean, I could get a takeout for you, but it's all about schedule.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah, it is. I mean, it's not about the food though. It's like dinner is not about the food. Nothing is really about the thing. It's about the getting together with the right people at the right restaurant. There are like 20 restaurants in this place.

[Peggy Rowe]

I think they're nine.

[Mike Rowe]

Okay. I mean, that's. That's more than that is in this hotel where I'm by the way. Here, let me show you what I tried to do. Why I was a little late with all of this. It's so pretty down here. And I wanted to set the computer up over here. Look at Baltimore back there. Is that awesome? Oh, that's gorgeous.

[Peggy Rowe]

Beautiful.

[Mike Rowe]

And by the way, we're trying to make this podcast more of a. Of a visual feast for people over on YouTube.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, good. Well, I'm glad I wore my Christmasy sweater.

[Mike Rowe]

I am too.

[Peggy Rowe]

Silver earrings. And you have some red in your farmer shirt. I love farmers. That was not a put down for farmers.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I believe they call it flannel.

[Peggy Rowe]

Flannel. It's a nice shirt.

[Mike Rowe]

Well, it's made in the USA yarn, dyed by our friends at American Giant who may or may not be sponsoring this conversation. But it is a comfortable shirt, regardless of whether they're paying me to say that or not. Who made your shirt, Mom?

[Peggy Rowe]

I don't know, but I bought it at the treasure chest for $3 the year we moved in because I didn't have anything all red, so. And it's very comfortable as a zipper.

[Mike Rowe]

Don't take it off. Don't take it off.

[Peggy Rowe]

I'm not taking. Are you kidding?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Well, we know you how you get your vitamin D so well.

[Peggy Rowe]

I do.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah. One day naked out there on the.

[Peggy Rowe]

One day I did that.

[Mike Rowe]

That's all it takes. All your neighbors have to do is look out the window one day and see you splayed out there with the sunlight bouncing off your alabaster. 87 year old Hyde.

[Peggy Rowe]

Lucky neighbors. And there was no petition and we didn't have to move, so that's a good thing.

[Mike Rowe]

Scott get to the airport okay?

[Peggy Rowe]

No, but we took him to the car rental place this morning. Oh, he's driving and he's on his way to a little town in New Jersey for his company Christmas party.

[Mike Rowe]

My middle brother Scott is an engineer. He lives down in Florida, but he got hired by this company in New Jersey, and they're doing their big shindig. So on his way to New Jersey, see, Scott has taken the same pledge that I have. Mom, anytime you're in the time zone or certainly in the state, you got to come by. So he was on his way to New Jersey and stopped to see you guys and stayed for a night. And I guess he's going to stay, what, tomorrow night on his way back?

[Peggy Rowe]

He'll be back tomorrow afternoon, and then he's going to leave on Monday. What's your brother. He's such an engineer. My cousin Nancy called yesterday. Well, she's been in real estate for years, and she loves to talk to Scott. And she said, scott, I want you to know that realtors hate to sell to engineers. They are so specific. They come into the house and they want to check the water and the heating, and they want to check how this is put together. And that's put together. Well, on our way to the car this morning, Scott was carrying a garment bag with his party outfit for tonight at the hotel. The handle came off of the hanger inside the garment bag. Well, I mean, anybody else would have just laid the garment bag over their arm and thrown the handle in the trash can. Not Scott. He stops, analyzes why that handle came off. Well, he got it put back on again. By the time we got to the car, his hanger had a handle again. That's engineer for you. I would have, like I said, chucked.

[Mike Rowe]

It, and I would have never brought a party outfit in the first place.

[Peggy Rowe]

Sure you would have. I've seen you dress up for that. That military thing that you go to.

[Mike Rowe]

Oh, yeah, well, that's different. I wear my very best farmer shirt for that and my farmer suit and all of that. My black tie. Farmer where? Yeah, that's the Marine Corps ball you're talking about.

[Peggy Rowe]

You sent me a picture, and you really look good.

[Mike Rowe]

I mean, everybody there, it absolutely looks their best. But the thing about that ball that's so interesting is the youngest Marine is there, and he cuts the cake with a sword, and the first piece goes to the oldest Marine. And I think the last time I went, the youngest Marine was like 19, and the oldest was 104. And they're on stage and there's a brass band, and it's very patriotic, and people stand and sing all the obvious songs, but over all of it is just this heavy smell of mothballs.

[Peggy Rowe]

I thought you were gonna say noble whiskey.

[Mike Rowe]

No, no. American giants. No, it's mothballs, man. It's. Everybody looks glamorous but they only wear that tux or that gown once a year. It was kind of like at the opera. Remember? You'd go there sometimes. You'd be like, wow, everybody's dressed up. But what is that smell? It's mothballs.

[Peggy Rowe]

I hadn't thought about it.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Now you know.

[Peggy Rowe]

And now we know.

[Mike Rowe]

And now the rest of the story.

[Peggy Rowe]

Yeah. Anyway, Scott has a party tonight, and he had a black. Well, I know he had a Christmas tie, actually, instead of a black tie, but it's a fancy affair.

[Mike Rowe]

Who did I see yesterday over there at the home? Who had around, like, a Hawaiian lei, except it was full on Christmas tree lights all screwed in to, like, a closed circuit. Literally. It's like a necklace made out of big Christmas tree lights.

[Peggy Rowe]

Yeah, that was Dan. He came to our table in Lakeside and joined us a little bit for lunch. He's head of marketing here.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah, the other guy had it, though, too.

[Peggy Rowe]

Yes. Todd Sullivan. Yes. He's an executive. He's like, the vice. He's under the top executive.

[Mike Rowe]

Here's how weird it's gotten. Chuck. I know we've talked about this before and laughed about it, but Mom's book. Oh, no, not the home, which is doing quite well, not to anyone's surprise, has done weirdly well. Like, shockingly, strangely well at the home itself. I think everybody's read it. People are walking around with it. And you can't walk through this place with my mother and not get stopped every 10ft by somebody who wants to know, hey, is, you know Carol on page 9 97, whose name was changed. I think I know who that really is.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Right?

[Mike Rowe]

And they're like these constant conversations, or.

[Peggy Rowe]

Tell me, am I on page 85? Is that me? Because that sure sounds like me.

[Mike Rowe]

Well, yesterday, was that on steroids? They were doing some kind of open house. And There were probably 100 people there, maybe more.

[Peggy Rowe]

There were 200.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Wow.

[Mike Rowe]

200 people who come in to see if they want to live in this place. And as I'm talking to the, like, the head of sales, this woman comes up. She's like Peggy Rowe. I just want you to know that I'm moving in here because of this book. I love this book. It just made me want to live here. And I swear to God, it was not set up. Nothing. And I'm just like, what is. What is going on here?

[Peggy Rowe]

Chuck, you have to know that when we go anyplace with Mike, our family, the rest of us are totally invisible. It's all about Mike. Because everybody knows who Mike is. And the rest of us just kind of fade into the shadows. Well, this woman stopped to tell me about the book. And then she looked over and she looked at Scott. She said, I know you. You're the son. You're the son who lives in Florida. I saw your picture in the book. Oh, geez. Well, it felt. I mean, I'm sure Scott kind of felt important.

[Mike Rowe]

I'm sure that's exactly how he felt. Big day. Big day for Scott. Had his picture in a book recognized at the home. Scott truly couldn't give a crap about any level of that. I mean, he is as indifferent as you would hope an engineer would be to anything that could be confused with notoriety, celebrity awareness. He just doesn't care.

[Peggy Rowe]

No, no, he really doesn't. He's delightful.

[Mike Rowe]

Where's dad?

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, I believe he's in the kitchen reading. Right now. He's supposed to play pool at 2:00, so he'll be leaving shortly with his pool stick.

[Mike Rowe]

That's a sight, too, Chuck. Seeing my father walk around clutching what could be a shotgun. It's in this black case, you know, with like these.

[Peggy Rowe]

Or maybe a clarinet.

[Mike Rowe]

Could be a clarinet. A big one, you know. But it's a pool cue.

[Peggy Rowe]

A friend here gave it to him. And this friend is probably the best pool shooter here at Oak Crest. I mean, we have 2,000 independent living residents here.

[Mike Rowe]

You're talking about Will Willie?

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, yeah, you met him yesterday. Yeah, he's been impressed by Dad's diligence at the pool table and had an extra pool cue, so gave it to dad. And dad walks around with it. He's proud of it and uses it.

[Mike Rowe]

This episode is sponsored in part by our friends over at Better Help. Because it's that time of year, friends. The time of year when a lot of people are feeling overwhelmed by a long list of problems and they simply don't know where to turn right now. It's not just the holidays and all the pressure that comes with that, though. It's a math problem. The supply of qualified therapists is currently overwhelmed by the demand for them. So whatever it is that's got you down, you're not alone. There are a lot of people out there looking for help who simply can't find it. Which is why BetterHelp is such a great option. It's convenient, it's accessible, it's affordable. It's entirely online. You can get matched today with a qualified therapist after filling out a brief survey. And you can switch therapists anytime. Look, this is a super personal thing. I Say this every time when I talk about BetterHelp. I don't want to paint with too broad a brush. But look, if you're in a rut or if you're feeling overwhelmed and wishing you felt less anxious about the world and all the uncertainty in it, stop wishing. Get yourself the help you need. Betterhelp.com micro Go there today. Get 10% off your first month. That's Betterhelp. H E L p.com micro it's really funny how not very good most people are at pool who really enjoy playing it, including you and I, Chuck. I mean, we played for years. We're not good at all. But it's just one of those sports that you can really sink your teeth into, no matter how incompetent you are at it.

[Peggy Rowe]

And if you. Scott good at it. This is the funny thing. Scott doesn't play pool, but he's really.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I just would think as an engineer.

[Peggy Rowe]

Really good with angles.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

That's what I would think. Yeah.

[Peggy Rowe]

And so he played. They play a game called captain with three people can play. And after they played last night, the women were in the library playing. We play pinochle or rummy cube. We play games and the men play pool. And Bob came up to me afterwards, Bob Kaufman, and he said, I've really enjoyed playing pool with Scott tonight. He's a lot of fun and he's pretty good. And dad just said to me this morning, he said, I was surprised. Scott is really pretty good at the pool table. You know, he takes his time and he measures and he does what he has to do.

[Mike Rowe]

I was going to say my friend Scott Flansburg, the human calculator, who's been on this podcast before. He has a level of coordination that is on par with his ability to see angles. I don't think Scott does. But it's not that Scott's. My brother is uncoordinated. It's just that most people can't do what Flansburg can do. He'll run 30, 40 balls at a time, routinely.

[Peggy Rowe]

Really?

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah, he's just a lights out pool player. He can shoot free throws like in basketball, or even some tougher shots at the top of the key. He'll just hit him one after the next, one after the next. He's a great basketball player. He's only like 5, 9 or 5 10, but he's super coordinated. And golf. Good grief. Golf. He can hit a ball 330 yards and he's basically a scratch golfer. He's like an engineer. He can see the angles but he can also, you know, throw bullseyes with darts just all day long. And, yeah, Scott doesn't do that. In fact, do you remember when we were giving him crap years ago about either playing baseball in the backyard, playing catch, or throwing a Frisbee, and he. He was making a mess of things, and he said, well, whatever. Golf is my game.

[Peggy Rowe]

He plays once a year with the company. When the company has their golf tournament, he plays once a year. But he always said, growing up that golf was his game. But he never played.

[Mike Rowe]

He never played it. Yeah, just never played it. Golf's my game.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Just hoping nobody would call his bluff.

[Peggy Rowe]

I guess. None of us were golfers, so there was no danger.

[Mike Rowe]

There was nothing we could say. It was like, well, who knew? Who knew? But, yeah, the pool thing was so much fun for us. There was a place. I don't know if we've talked about it here before. We probably have, but Chuck and I used to shoot pool in North Hollywood at a place called North Hollywood Billiards, which was really just a. It was a great pool hall with a great jukebox. But I think 99% of the people who played were migrant workers and Mexicans who came in. We used to call it the. What do we call it? The Trumpet Palace.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Trumpet palace, yeah, because of all the mariachi that they would play. And then as soon as we came in, there was a very eclectic jukebox. It had everything from mariachi to Prince. So. Yeah.

[Mike Rowe]

Did we tell you this story before, Mom?

[Peggy Rowe]

It sounds vaguely familiar, but I can't. I don't know where you're going with it. So it's been a while.

[Mike Rowe]

It's just so inappropriate. You have to imagine this happening at the pool hall, at the home. This is not really a pool hall. They got three or four pool tables, but this place probably had, I don't know, 40 or 50, at least, and they were all lined up. And you got to imagine maybe 100 guys in there, all day laborers, you know, and they're drinking Corona, and they're shooting pool, and they're talking. Everybody's smoking, everybody's speaking Spanish, and everybody's shooting pool. And the sound in the air is pure brass band. It's just trumpets. Just like the smell at the ball was mothballs. The sound here was trumpets. And Chuck and I would play, and we liked it. And then we discovered all the different things on this jukebox, and we started playing a song by Prince, which I'm sure you're super familiar with, mom, was a big hit. Back in the 80s, I believe, called you sexy mother.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, yes. You know what?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

It's all coming back to you now.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

You do you remember this story?

[Peggy Rowe]

We sing it in church frequently.

[Mike Rowe]

Chuck. Sing a few bars. How's it go?

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, well, you really. No, don't. You don't have to say that word each time.

[Mike Rowe]

Well, we'll bleep it out, but I just want you to hear what our Mexican pool playing brothers heard out of nowhere. Ladies and gentlemen, Charles Klausmeier.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

You sexy mother. Sexy mother. Shaking that ass Shaking that ass Shaking that ass. Sexy mother. Shaking that ass Shaking that ass Shaking that ass. Sexy mother.

[Mike Rowe]

So you have to imagine, I mean, all these guys, it's just nothing but trumpets and trombones for hours. And then this happens, and they all just start looking at each other. Yeah. And then they start looking around.

[Peggy Rowe]

But did they speak English? Did they know what the lyrics were?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I think a lot of them did. Yeah.

[Mike Rowe]

Oh, I think they were conversant. Yeah. It wasn't. Where did that song come from? It wasn't. Why is that song being played? It wasn't. Hey, we've never heard that song played in here before. It was. Who played that song? And in that room, when you look around, two obvious suspects come to mind.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Yeah. We were routinely the only white guys in there. Yeah.

[Mike Rowe]

Oh, boy.

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, I'm glad. Glad you didn't break out in song here yesterday, Mike. That would have.

[Mike Rowe]

No, they had a Santa Claus there. There were carolers.

[Peggy Rowe]

Yeah. He took our picture.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah. That song would have been amazing there at the home.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, my goodness, Michael, don't even think about it.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

That song would have killed at karaoke the other night.

[Mike Rowe]

Yes. Yes. We had a company Christmas party. Mom took the gang out. You know, people flew in who don't work in California for us, eight or nine or, I guess maybe 10 of us. And it took everybody out to a nice dinner. And then we went to some karaoke joint not far from the office in Santa Monica.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

But a unique karaoke joint. It wasn't just recorded karaoke, it was a live band. So you came up and sang karaoke with a live band. No pressure.

[Mike Rowe]

Pretty great. I mean, so the band is pretty tight and people are coming up and they're doing their thing. And Chuck, of course, used to run a karaoke bar years ago. What was it called? Like, the Bombay Bicycle Club. Yes.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Which was a restaurant and bar, but they did karaoke on the weekends and I hosted it. Yeah.

[Mike Rowe]

So Chuck puts his name in and he's gonna sing. What, like La Bamba or something.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

That was, like, the only song that I thought. I think I could sing that with a band, because it's different, you know, you don't. You have no bouncing ball or anything.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, you don't have to. You gotta know the song in front of you.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Well, you have the lyrics, but there's no bouncing ball to let you know when you're supposed to come in or when you're not supposed to come in. So you better know all that, because all you have is the lyrics. And you got a live band playing. Yeah.

[Mike Rowe]

So there's like, an iPad on a C stand. So you're looking at the lyrics. There's a real band around you playing and a room full of people watching. So it's a. You know, it's much more of a performance. And so Chuck is going to sing La Bamba, or so he thinks. How's that go? Just so my mom understands.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Parabella. La Bamba, parabaya La Bamba Se necessita una poca de grazia. You get the idea.

[Peggy Rowe]

I recognize it.

[Mike Rowe]

Which would have worked very nicely at the Trumpet palace, by the way.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Very much so. Yeah.

[Mike Rowe]

But at the last moment, we're looking at the song sheet, and I don't know who it was that suggested it, but.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Well, what really sparked it, Mike, was that a certain someone there by the name of Jade had a coat that she wasn't wearing, but it was there. And this coat was white and fur, like, fake fur.

[Mike Rowe]

But I got a picture of it in my phone somewhere. See if you have one.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Yeah, I'm looking for one right now.

[Mike Rowe]

It looked like a costume that the Abominable Snowman would wear if he were being cast. Right? It just a Shaggy. I mean, Jade's fashion is unbelievable.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, so Chuck wore that?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Yes.

[Mike Rowe]

It was like, well, wait a minute. If you put this jacket on, would that make La Bamba somehow funnier? And it was unclear, but what was very clear would be if he sang a song by Rick James. Now, if you go out as Rick James in that coat, well, that would be something. And, Chuck, that song was what?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Oh, Super Freak.

[Mike Rowe]

Sorry, it's called Super, Super Freak.

[Peggy Rowe]

Did you do that one, Chuck?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I did. I did, and I barely knew the chorus to it, but. But, yeah, there I am again. There's another.

[Peggy Rowe]

Did you bring the house down?

[Mike Rowe]

Totally, totally. Yeah. You know what, Chuck? I'm just calling an audible right now. Yeah, I've got that footage on my phone. We're going to cut it into this video and have a look at it. Right now.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, I'm really anxious to see it.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

All right, well, let's see. I think I have it on my phone if we. If you want a reaction to it. Let me see. Hold on.

[Peggy Rowe]

Did you sing?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Because I took these screenshots. Mike won't sing.

[Mike Rowe]

You know what?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

It's disappointing.

[Mike Rowe]

Well, I just figure, look, I'm so famous already, right? I'm such a big deal already. To walk up in front of a room full of people who recognize you.

[Peggy Rowe]

From the TV and expect something.

[Mike Rowe]

Well, it's like, hey, this is my big moment to shine right now. Everybody look at me. It's like, you know, I've been looked at enough. That's me putting his jacket on. This is pure cultural appropriation. Mom, what you're about to see. This is completely inappropriate. Band's figuring it out. Here they go. Like, all right, this white kid's really going to do this. Dress like the Abominable Snowman.

[Peggy Rowe]

And he's got the moves.

[Mike Rowe]

The white people aren't sure where to look. The black people can't quite believe what they're hearing.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, and look, they're dancing.

[Mike Rowe]

Oh, yeah. He went the middle of frenzy.

[Peggy Rowe]

Chuck, you probably will get a lot of recording offers after this.

[Mike Rowe]

Or possibly an assassination attempt or two.

[Peggy Rowe]

Chuck, sometime you'll have to come to the home and do that. You gotta do it after we're gone, of course.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah.

[Peggy Rowe]

Give us five or six years, I'd say.

[Mike Rowe]

Lead with that. And then come back with the Prince tune hard.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

You bet.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I've yet to see that on karaoke, but I will sing it if it ever appears. Yeah.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah. That was a great moment, man. That was good.

[Peggy Rowe]

We don't hear much profanity here at the home. And, of course, I'm not.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Is that true?

[Peggy Rowe]

I'm not famous. My books don't have a lot of profanity or violence, language or nudity or porn.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I read a post recently where people took umbrage with your book because of the profanity.

[Peggy Rowe]

Wow.

[Mike Rowe]

I think it's your first piece of hate mail.

[Peggy Rowe]

You know what? I've got it here somewhere.

[Mike Rowe]

Oh, I would like to hear this. For those of you who don't follow my Facebook page, I actually posted this. My mother sent me a picture of it. And it's written in longhand on lineless paper by somebody we'll call JL look at this thing.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Dag.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, and at first I felt kind of badly because he takes me to task for using. Apparently I quoted. There's an author who lives across the parking lot. His name is Dick Elwood and he's written six books or so. He was a career Baltimore City policeman. And his books are good. I mean, he's not a polished, accomplished. He ain't Shakespeare. I say in my book, but he can tell a story.

[Mike Rowe]

That's nice.

[Peggy Rowe]

He can tell a story. And he's had many interesting experiences in his career. And I quote him a little bit. And I use a couple of bad words in my book. So I think that might be what Mr. J.L. was referring to. But I mean, he wasn't nasty. He just says to Peggy Rowe in oh, no, not the home. As in your other books, I have been shocked. Wait a minute. As in my other books, I have been shocked by your obscenities. Misspelled. But that's okay. Especially from a woman who seems too dignified to set such a poor example. Do you use that language with your children and grandchildren or did you learn it from them? Do you do that to make your books R rated so they can sell better? You come across as a woman who could be more respected except for your foul language. I don't use foul language. I take umbrage at that.

[Mike Rowe]

Just keep going.

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, as you described on page 202. Well, okay, that's with the former sentence. I looked at page 202. There's nothing on there. I'm also on the edge of my seat when I read your books, wondering when I will come across one of your obscenities misspelled again. Please clean up your language so that I can sit back and enjoy. Now this is the good part. And enjoy your funny and amazing experiences without being shocked. On page 278, you say that you were shocked by the language in the movies. And right after that, on the same page, you shocked me again. It's very disappointing. Peg, I only read your books because my daughter keeps sending them to me. I doubt that she knows about your obscenities Misspelled again. I really do wish that you were the kind of person I would be happy with for a neighborhood. Is this the real Peggy Rowe? JL he gives me his last name, but I don't know.

[Mike Rowe]

Or hers. How do you know it's a him?

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, I don't know. I think I looked him up on the Internet and there is somebody, a man with that name who is 78 years old. And this looks like maybe a 78 year old man might have written it. But anyway, I think it's funny. I'll cover up his name up here. I think it's funny that he would take the time to sit down and write this letter in cursive and then put a stamp on it and send it to me across the country. Well, anyway, I don't want to hurt his feelings. He sounds like he likes my writing, except for the obscenities with a C in it.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

But he only reads it because his daughter sends it to him.

[Peggy Rowe]

I know. Why does he keep reading my books if he's so shocked? That's what I don't get.

[Mike Rowe]

Shameless plug. Gosh, you know, I hate to interrupt my mom like this, but she'll probably understand that I'm interrupting her to remind you that it's a great time to pick up her latest book. It's called oh, no, not the Home. It really is great. She writes with such honesty about the people that she's met at this place. People just love it. Her other books are available as well, over at my website, micro.com momsbook and you know, her pop was Carl Noble, the man who inspired Dirty Jobs and then the microworks foundation, and most recently, a line of whiskey with his name proudly festooned upon it. K N O B E L. Noble Tennessee Whiskey comes in half a dozen different flavors. Now. They're all available at Noble. You buy a bottle online, it helps out the foundation. It's a great cause. It tastes delicious. At noblespirits.com K N O B E L spirits.com now, where was I? Ah, yes, me mom. Soon may the nobleman come to bring a bottle for everyone. One day, when the waiting is done, we'll take a drink and go. Because people love to be shocked. People love to be offended, and then they love to complain about the extent to which they've been offended. That was not a thing when you were my age. Today, that's new. That's changed. People delight in being scandalized and mortified, and they especially delight in sharing their disappointment.

[Peggy Rowe]

Yeah, well, you know, I grew up in a home. You knew your grandparents. They did not use obscenities at all. Their language. I kids sometimes that I grew up in a Quaker family. There was no language at all. I mean, sometimes my dad painted the air blue with go to war, Ms. Agnes. Well, we knew it was something really serious.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Yeah.

[Peggy Rowe]

So last week I talked to my sister. I talked to her every week, a couple times, and she was down. Janet's had a lot of physical problems this year, and she can no longer walk. She relies on a wheelchair. And she said it just kind of hit her all at Once, or maybe it was the season. But she said she was getting teary and kind of weepy a lot, and it just upset me because she's such an upbeat person all the time. So I called her and toward the end of our conversation, I told her about this guy's letter and how he. You know what? Let me. I have this.

[Mike Rowe]

It's your episode, mom. You do whatever you want. Just keep your shirt on.

[Peggy Rowe]

Okay? And zipped up. I was headed to the mail room today when I Suddenly missed my 90 year old sister a couple of hundred miles away. Perhaps it's just the season, but I needed to connect with her. Janet has struggled physically this year and a few days ago admitted to feeling teary from time to time. I'm pretty good at cheering people up. So when we spoke this evening, I shared a letter I just received from a Mr. L who claimed to be shocked and disappointed by my obscenities with a C in it. In my latest book, it's my first piece of hate mail, I told her. Obscenities? What obscenities? Your books don't have obscenities. My sister claimed. Now Janet would know because we grew up in a Quaker like home where the word crap would send my mother's eyebrows to the ceiling. And Janet has carried on the tradition. We decided Mr. L was referring to my neighbor's book, a career cop in Baltimore City. Dick tells it like it is. And I quoted some of his colorful language in oh no, not the home. Before saying goodbye, I went out on a wispy twig and signed off by wishing my sister a good night. Well, it's been a while since we shared such a belly laugh together. Followed by another one when she responded. I'll try my day damnedest. I can only hope our parents didn't hear us. Maybe you can lift someone's spirits this holiday. Whatever it takes.

[Mike Rowe]

Oh, man, if there's any justice, Mr. And Mrs. L is listening to this right now. That's fantastic. Oh, God.

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, you know, I don't use that word gratuitously. Is that a good word? Gratuitous? Yes, gratuitous.

[Mike Rowe]

That's a great word.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

For no reason.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah, that's an excellent reason. I gotta laugh. Got a laugh out of everything it picked out. Well, did you approve of my response on the Facebooks as I tried to defend your honor?

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, I thought you used the word, an S word gratuitously, five or six times.

[Mike Rowe]

Well, I was quoting you, which I.

[Peggy Rowe]

You know what?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Honestly, it was more like 12 or 20. I think it was a lot.

[Peggy Rowe]

Ho, ho, ho. Just the season to be jolly and holy. So maybe we should talk about something else other than.

[Mike Rowe]

I don't think so. I think what we're gonna talk about is a mother's attempt to delight her many fans and her son's desire to protect her honor in the wake of her first bit of hate mail. I think there's a seasonal, joyful message in that, you know, beyond the language. Anyway, I think people would appreciate it, at least knowing, you know.

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, as long as you know when and where to use it, it's okay, because I posted that letter. I mean, I posted this on my Facebook page, and I have hundreds of thousands of fans. Not as many as you do, but, no, nowhere close. I read quite a few of the comments. I mean, there are almost a thousand comments, and I read quite a few, and nobody took exception to my language. Nobody was offended. I mean, if they were, they didn't leave a comment.

[Mike Rowe]

I didn't read the comments to this. Chuck, do you want to hear this? Should I read this thing real quick?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Yeah, why not?

[Mike Rowe]

Let people know.

[Peggy Rowe]

Do you think you'll offend your listeners?

[Mike Rowe]

I doubt we have any still listening at this point, but if we do, they're probably either all living at the home or related to you, so I doubt it.

[Peggy Rowe]

The other day, I watched you on a podcast where that word was used liberally. It wasn't your podcast, but you were on with somebody else. Joe.

[Mike Rowe]

Joe Rogan, I believe his name is.

[Peggy Rowe]

And you were. I mean, he was.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Never heard of him.

[Peggy Rowe]

He was saying the F word, and you guys were smoking cigars like we're in a bar somewhere. I'm glad you didn't invite me to be on that.

[Mike Rowe]

Look, the things that happen when you're not around, you know, sometimes. Sometimes Chuck is singing inappropriate songs. Sometimes we're shooting pools. Sometimes I'm smoking cigars. This Joe Rogan guy's kind of new to the podcast game, but I think. I think he's got potential. Got some potential. He's got chops.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Yeah, for sure. Yeah, yeah, he'll be all right.

[Mike Rowe]

Does have a bit of a potty mouth, but, you know, his people seem to like him.

[Peggy Rowe]

Does he have any following?

[Mike Rowe]

Not much. No, not much. But again, I think, you know, with a little bit of luck, he could probably carve out a piece. Anyway, mom sends me the letter she read from Mr. Or Mrs. L, and I just posted it, and what I said was, Dear Mr. And Mrs. L, I'm writing to inform you that my mother has noted your disappointment with her occasional use of obscenity in her various best selling books, including her most recent masterpiece. Oh no, not the Home. Your letter, attached along with a brief note from my mother, arrived in my inbox this morning. Dear Michael. Well, I guess it was bound to happen. I finally heard from someone who doesn't like my writing. I'm not sure how to respond, but given the number of people that you've disappointed over the years with your own reliance on vulgarity and smut, I thought perhaps you might have some advice. Much love, Mom. Before we delve into my own reliance on vulgarity and smut, I want to say that my mother and I appreciate the time you took to express your disappointment. Moreover, we were both impressed by your grammar, spelling, I said ironically, sentence structure and overall syntax. So many people these days, especially those who wish to offer the kind of gentle rebuke you have provided here, diminish their points with myriad mistakes. Not so with you. We were also impressed by the fact that you took the time to express your criticisms in a handwritten cursive note. Not only is your penmanship legible, it appears on a piece of paper with no lines, and yet your sentences remain neatly ordered and easy to read. That's a real talent, Mr. Or Mrs. L. We also noticed the way your carefully chosen words filled every square inch of the page without a lot of unnecessary crowding at the very end. Another indication that this is not the first letter you've written to someone you've never met to share your disappointment. So far, so good, right?

[Peggy Rowe]

Yeah, nothing offensive at all.

[Mike Rowe]

As for your primary concern, my mother's purported penchant for obscenity, spelled incorrectly, I can only tell you that the instances to which you refer do not reflect her actual vernacular. At least not in a way that should cause offense to any grown up. The fact is, my mother, like her mother before her, would never use bad language in the course of expressing her own thoughts. In fact, my mom and my grandmother positively deplored the crassness to which you object, and they both criticized it whenever they encountered it. However, both women were far less scrupulous when quoting other people. And that's the point. This is precisely what happens in most of my mother's runaway bestsellers, including her latest triumph, oh no, not the Home, which Can still be purchased in time for [e-mail] momsbook now, as for my own reliance on vulgarity and smut to which she so casually alludes, I believe my mom was referring to the many hundreds of Letters I received 20 years ago that reminded her of yours. Letters from angry viewers who thought I was cursing on Dirty Jobs when in fact I was not. The trouble began for me way back in season one, when a large rat jumped into my lap while I was filming in a sewer. In my surprise, I yelled Holy crap. Before leaping to my feet, smashing my head on the top of the tunnel, and falling face first into a river of filthy. Given the environment and the conditions, Holy crap seemed a harmless and completely appropriate exclamation. But the network was concerned. They believed the word crap might be offensive to a handful of their most sensitive viewers, so they bleeped it out when the episode aired. Consequently, millions of viewers, including my own mother, assumed that I had said something much worse. In fact, my mother called me immediately after that episode aired, demanding an explanation. Michael, why did you say shit on national television? What's wrong with you? Don't you know that shit is a bad word? I do, mom, but I didn't use that word. What I said was crap. Mom was dubious. Why would they bleep you for saying crap? She said. Crap isn't a bad word. Are you sure you didn't say it? Sure looked like you said shit. I'm positive, Mom. I definitely said crap. But don't they understand that bleeping crap makes everyone think you're really saying shit? She asked. I don't know, Mom. All they told me is that every time I say crap, they're going to bleep me. Great, said Mom. Now everyone will think your father and I raised a son who says shit on national television. Do you have any idea how much crap we're going to get at church this Sunday from people who think you're saying shit? Well, then I said, if they're going to bleep me every time I say crap, I guess I might as well say shit. Especially when I'm in a sewer and up to my neck in it. Watch your mouth, Michael. Shit is a bad word. Please don't say shit. See what I mean, Mr. L or Mrs. L. My mother deplores crass language and only uses it when she's quoting other people directly or referencing the word itself. Please send your letter of apology to the same address and have a wonderful holiday. Warmly, Mike Rowe P.S. her next book, seven words you can't say on the shitter. It should be out later this year. You can reserve a copy [e-mail] momsbook.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

That'S the one that sent me over the edge. The PS is the one that made me just spit my coffee all over my computer.

[Peggy Rowe]

What can I say? Lovely response.

[Mike Rowe]

Look, we're living in a weird time, Mom. Content is a strange thing. Social media is a weird thing. I wrote that on a plane after reading the handwritten note that you posted. I stand by every word of it. People have just listened to it now. They're still listening, in fact, dozens of them anyway.

[Peggy Rowe]

I mean, maybe if they haven't turned it off.

[Mike Rowe]

Well, probably more than are listening to Joe Rogan now. Probably.

[Peggy Rowe]

Seriously, I thought he had a big problem.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Oh, you do.

[Mike Rowe]

You did. Joe Rogan. I think you're putting me on. Yeah, I think 12, maybe 14 million people listen to that conversation.

[Peggy Rowe]

But it goes on for three hours. I couldn't stay on to the end of it. It just was too long.

[Mike Rowe]

We're at 52 minutes and 54 seconds right now, and I got to think it's probably time to land the plane with that in mind.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Yeah.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, really? Have we said anything about Christmas? Anything holiday related?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Why don't we start now with your warmest wishes to everybody. What do you want to tell people out there this Christmas season?

[Mike Rowe]

Please say Merry Christmas.

[Peggy Rowe]

Don't hold your breath for that one. No, I. You know, living here at the home has really opened my eyes to the fact that Christmas is a sad time for a lot of people. I met a woman in the hall the other day, a friend. I've gotten to know her well here in the last three or so years, and she's known for being upbeat and happy all the time, and she can make me laugh. She's a funny person. And she wasn't even smiling. And then she wiped her cheek and I asked her, what's wrong? She said, I'm sorry. This is a rough time of year for me. I miss my husband. I miss my mother. It's just a sad time. So I told her about my sister. I said, and apparently there's a very mild medication that you can take that relieves anxiety. And a lot of people find that it helps them, you know, through a difficult period and somebody else. So that's three people that I've just come into contact with this week who are having a hard time this Christmas season. And I'm a happy person. But, you know, there are times when I remember Christmases past, how wonderful they were, and it's not the same now. I have family and I love them and they love us, but it's just not the same. And I think at this time of year, it's about the Memories and, you know, they're just not the same, you know, with children running around and gifts under the tree and they were really special times.

[Mike Rowe]

Do you think people romanticize it? In hindsight, I agree. You know, when I think of the Christmases we had when I was a boy, I remember them the way I heard it. Right. But I wonder how much of a patina we put on it sometimes. And I wonder if that is part of the reason why a lot of people get down this time of year. Was it really as good as you remember it? Is it really as bad as you think it is right now? I don't know.

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, it was as good as I remember it and it's not bad now. It's just not the same.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

You know, it's a different season. It's a different season in life or the same season of the holiday season.

[Peggy Rowe]

It is. And you know what? And the truth is, we have three children and we would be more than welcome at each of their homes over the holidays. You know, traveling is just not very pleasant when you're older and you have to drag along a lot of medications and ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. And It's Metamucil at 3:00 and your thyroid medicine half hour before breakfast and your pills after dinner and your breakfast pills.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I love a good after dinner pill.

[Mike Rowe]

I do, too. You know what? You should decorate the tree with them.

[Peggy Rowe]

That's another thing. Our tree is a ceramic tree. I have two of them. We don't put up a tree anymore.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

It's tough to get the things to stay on there. The ceramic tree.

[Peggy Rowe]

You know what? Living where we do, I don't know, Mike, you were not here long enough last night, I believe, to appreciate the beautiful decorations for Christmas.

[Mike Rowe]

I've seen them. They do an amazing job there. Overall, it's pretty great.

[Peggy Rowe]

Every lobby has a huge Christmas tree just laden with bulbs and decorations. Every night of the week, there is a sing along, a carol sing along in every. In every lobby. There's a hot cider festival, there's eggnog, there's. I mean, they do everything they can here to make people happy. Because for a lot of people, the Christmas that we get here at Oak Crest is their only Christmas. They don't have relatives or loved ones anyway, so Christmas season can be a downer. What was your question? Do you remember?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

My question was, what's your wish to the audience in this Christmas season?

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, yeah.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

And I think you've basically just said everybody to draw a warm bath and sharpen the Steak knives.

[Peggy Rowe]

You know what? Well, I wish everyone a merry Christmas, of course. And I hope that you can spend it.

[Mike Rowe]

She's super freaky.

[Peggy Rowe]

Merry freaking Christmas. Yes.

[Mike Rowe]

Merry freaking Christmas. Oh, my God.

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, I'll tell you what we'll do. They'll have a special Christmas. We won't be here for Christmas because some friends invited us to their home. Some good friends invited us to their home. They do every Christmas.

[Mike Rowe]

Where are you going? Are you leaving the compound? The reservation?

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, yes, and we're driving four miles to our friend's house, Pat and Richard. And we'll have a lovely meal. There'd just be four of us. And then we'll probably play some games. And just being with people that you enjoy and that you really like is a good thing. And then we'll come home and if there's time, we might play a couple of games. Pool. We might watch the Christmas Story. And of course, throughout the day, we will get phone calls from our children who miss us. Oh, constant phone calls and wish we were with them.

[Mike Rowe]

Well, that's for sure. Even when they show up late for a breakfast that they explained they wouldn't be coming for in the first place.

[Peggy Rowe]

He managed to eat a lot. It wasn't easy because you were so late getting here. It was more like lunch.

[Mike Rowe]

We call that a bang, bang. Two meals, back to back, back to back.

[Peggy Rowe]

Well, for us it was bang, bang, bang. No, actually bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. Michael, that chicken salad they serve at Lakeside is just wonderful. And I brought one back and Scott had it with breakfast this morning. It was. It has nuts and cranberries and it's just wonderful.

[Mike Rowe]

These guys, Chuck, can stretch a meal into a week. They'll bring it home, they'll triple down on desserts and whatever extras. And then they just proportion them out. It's like the loaves and the fishes. It's just. There's always stuff. Yeah, there's always stuff in the fridge from meals that, you know, three, four days old. It's amazing.

[Peggy Rowe]

So anyway, Christmas goes on. And I went to a Christmas celebration the other night at the Acorn. I got at my pad and pencil because I was alone. Your dad was playing shuffleboard. And I sat at the bar with the ginger ale with my pad and pencil, just looking around. I took some pictures, but Dan was there with his guitar and he played. And there was a sing along for like 40 minutes. And then there were videos and I just looked around at people's expressions and they were, you know, having a drink with friends and some appetizers it was just a fun time. The place was packed. The lobby outside was packed. The lounge alongside was packed. Christmas trees visible out every little window. It was very festive. And I'm not complaining. You know, Christmas is good. And of course, your father is the liturgist at church in December, so we'll be at church tomorrow. And that's always special fun over the Christmas season and Christmas Eve. And if you recall, last Christmas night, Christmas Day night, your father had a horrific heart attack.

[Mike Rowe]

That's right.

[Peggy Rowe]

So whatever happens this Christmas will be better than last Christmas, that's for sure.

[Mike Rowe]

You know what? I guess that kind of rhymes a little bit. That was the hardest Christmas ever for you, I'm sure. Oh, yeah, certainly for me.

[Peggy Rowe]

It certainly was. It was horrible.

[Mike Rowe]

And here we are a year later. That's my Christmas wish, too. Would you just describe this. This idea that. I mean, it struck me the other day when I was leaving as I'm walking down these long hallways, and you don't know what's going on behind those doors, and you don't know who's grieving. You don't know who's up, you don't know who's down, you don't know who's struggling. But you have to assume that in a facility filled with people, most of whom are in their 80s and 90s, I guess, you know, older maybe, that they've had loss and they've had tragedy and that the holiday is tough. And to be able to walk out and down a hall and past a holiday tree and, you know, Christmas caroling and to a place where a woman is sitting at the bar sipping her ginger ale, writing it all down, and a guy's playing his guitar and people are singing that. That's community. That'll save your ass, I think. You know, when the chips are really down.

[Peggy Rowe]

Beautifully said. Who doesn't want his ass saved on Christmas?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Amen, sister.

[Mike Rowe]

Oh, gosh. Well, this was odd, but I like it. From Prince to Rick James to La Bamba to Christmas carols. To old traditions and new friends. And all of it, Mom.

[Peggy Rowe]

Yeah. Here's to old traditions and new friends.

[Mike Rowe]

Mm. What are you drinking there, Wassail?

[Peggy Rowe]

This is coffee with mom, isn't it? Coffee with mother.

[Mike Rowe]

Oh, yeah. Yeah, it sure is.

[Peggy Rowe]

Okay.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I went with vodka with Mother.

[Peggy Rowe]

Vodka with Chuck looks strangely like water.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

It always does.

[Mike Rowe]

Chuck's gone with. I'm alone in my bedroom drinking vodka. What's your Christmas wish?

[Peggy Rowe]

Yeah, and you should pick up the stocking part of your cap when you say that.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I would say, oh, well, go ahead. You sign off.

[Mike Rowe]

No, go ahead. I thought you asked me a podcast for me. Would, you know. No, go ahead.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I thought you asked me a question, that's all.

[Mike Rowe]

What was the question you thought I asked?

[Peggy Rowe]

Tell us about your Christmas, Chuck. What do you wish for people?

[Chuck Klausmeier]

My Christmas wish. Just remember the reason for the season. John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.

[Peggy Rowe]

Oh, what a nice way to take us out. I would have said that.

[Mike Rowe]

You and Charlie Brown really nailed it.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I love Charlie Brown. That's a good one.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

All right. That's it. That's all I got to say.

[Mike Rowe]

That's it. Good for you. Good for you, Chuck. Sharing your faith with people, jamming it down their throats and whatnot. I think that's great.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Get in there.

[Mike Rowe]

But no one did it better than Schultz. You know, Lee Mendelsohn tells that great story of getting peanuts on the air. A Charlie Brown Christmas was a tough sell. It was a tough sell. And to have, I think, Linus quoting Luke.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Yeah, Like a lot of it. The whole Christmas story. Yeah.

[Mike Rowe]

Yeah, exactly.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Yeah.

[Mike Rowe]

The executives did not want that, you know, and to get Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack, that weird jazzy thing, and that sad little Christmas tree that nobody wanted, but Charlie Brown would put one bulb on the top, remember, it pulls the whole thing over.

[Peggy Rowe]

And Linus wrapped his blanket around the trunk, and that made everything good.

[Mike Rowe]

That's what this conversation was. It was not a traditional ho, ho, ho, everything is going to be great. It was an honest look at the unexpected music of the season with some language you might not expect to hear in church or find in a traditional greeting card. True dat.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

True dat.

[Mike Rowe]

With a little John 3:16.

[Peggy Rowe]

Yes.

[Mike Rowe]

All right, guys, well, wonderful to see you. Merry Christmas to everyone listening. Thank you for making coffee with mom, my favorite episodes of this podcast, and for making this podcast so much bigger than Joe Rogan's. I'm so grateful for that and so surprised by the many, many, many, many millions of listeners we have now. So that's what I'm grateful for, Chuck.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

Awesome. Goodbye, everybody. Merry Christmas.

[Peggy Rowe]

Goodbye. Love you all.

[Mike Rowe]

Ho ho, ho.

[Peggy Rowe]

Merry Christmas.

[Mike Rowe]

Really? Everyone? You don't really love everyone.

[Peggy Rowe]

You all three.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

I think she was talking to us.

[Peggy Rowe]

Yeah, I was talking to you guys.

[Mike Rowe]

You know what? You know who else I love? Mr. Or Mrs. J.L. i really hope they're having a great holiday, regardless of their relationship with the English language.

[Peggy Rowe]

I hope so.

[Mike Rowe]

All right, goodbye.

[Peggy Rowe]

Goodbye.

[Mike Rowe]

Here's to the guys who advertise and subsidize the podcast that I do. They spend their dough and you should know before you go, that's that's why it's free for you. Because it's free, I hope you see, and then agree their bottom should be kissed. Without the guys who advertised, the show would not exist. There's no podcast without a sponsor. Thank them for paying the freight. Please don't fast forward through their commercials, even ones that you hate. There's no podcast without a sponsor. Thank them for paying the freight. Please don't fast forward through their commercials, even the ones you hate well, we did it again my friends. We got through another year. Unbelievable. Thanks, of course, to the generous support of our many sponsors, who in no particular order, include my friends at PureTalk, buildsubmarines.com, better Help, ZipRecruiter, American Giant, Prize Picks, Aura Frames, Goruck, Netsuite, Noble Tennessee Whiskey, and of course, oh no, but not the Home by Peggy Rowe, which you can pick up [e-mail] momsbook Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

[Chuck Klausmeier]

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[Mike Rowe]

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[Chuck Klausmeier]

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[Peggy Rowe]

Com.