page contents Google

GRAVEYARD WALK IN A GARDEN OF STONE

My father is buried in the veteran’s section of a Klamath Falls graveyard.
I voted for the Willamette National Cemetery but he lived near Klamath Falls so it made sense.
The last time I visited was a dark, rainy, day with the irrigation pipes laid out and sprinklers helicoptering around.
[Read More…]

VETERANS DAY, 2026

Behind every veteran on Veterans Day are people who got them on their way.
In this photo the force of nature is on the right.
It’s my Mom.
[Read More…]

HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE WITH EVELYN BANKO

Last night my wife and I, along with our friends Barry and Phyllis, attended a Holocaust remembrance in the Tigard library.

 

Please join us on the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht for a witnessing by the local Holocaust survivor Evelyn Banko.
She will be talking about her experiences under Nazi persecution in Austria, and her family’s eventual journey to safety in the US by way of Latvia and the Soviet Union. 
Caution: strong language involving violence and death.
Program presented in partnership with the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education.

[Read More…]

TAKING PART IN FAMILY LIFE

Family life takes time. Ask the Baldwins with their seven kids.
Keep that in mind, you youngsters, when you decide it’s time to join in.
Join the club, the family club, sooner than later.
Why?
[Read More…]

THE TRUTH, GETTING A HANDLE

Getting a handle on the truth shouldn’t be a big hurdle to clear.
All it takes is a little self-awareness.
The truth is your friend if you’re not too sketchy.
Will it set you free? Well . . .
It depends on the sort of shackles your used to.
[Read More…]

More Posts from this Category

toughen up

Boomer Gym: 1-1-1

Baby boomer numbers scare non-boomers. Most of the numbers you hear sound like this: 79 Million Baby Boomers in America. 10,000 Baby Boomers retire every day. Those are the frightening numbers. Number matter, but one of the most important is one hundred eleven, the old 111. But what does it mean? It’s a natural number. A […]

CANCER EDUCATION, PAIN MANAGEMENT, LIQUID OXY

I am a sore throat expert. It’s a benefit of neck cancer education after I graduated from treatment. Of all sore throats in the history of sore throats mine was the worst, said everyone with a sore throat rated above an 8.5.

AUTHORITARIAN PARENT? WHAT OTHER KIND IS THERE

    A scene from the movie Vision Quest shows Louden Swain’s buddy Kuch at home with his dad. Instead of a bonding moment of shared struggle, the dad slaps Kuch around, telling him he’ll never be nothing.   Nothing. Wrestling might make him feel like a big shot, but he’ll still be nothing.   […]

More Posts from this Category

boomer years

WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKED LIKE TO NEW PARENTS

  New families are the future of life on earth? Agree? Who doesn’t hope such a broad statement is true with kids in the house? Instead of feeling trapped by the needs of someone other than yourself, feel the power. Do it right and they grow up to make the sort of decisions that promote […]

THE SOUND OF CIVIC DUTY

Ask An Academic Professional About Civic Duty And Listen Hard. You won’t hear about their civic duty or your civic duty, but the shared community. Might not be your community either. Keep listening. Civic duty is more than boundaries and lines drawn on a map, they say. An academic pro, the teacher, counselor, the administrator, […]

THE MISGUIDED BABY BOOMER

Won’t Get Fooled Again? Place Your Bet. Growing up, little boomer never questioned why anyone would smoke in the house. With a carton of Red in the freezer and ashtrays on every table, what are you supposed to do? Complain? To who? Then you go to college and find smokers everywhere, just like home, except […]

More Posts from this Category

buckle up

PORTLAND OF THE SOUTH PT. 2: KNOW WHERE YOU ARE

An ongoing series about Asheville, NC, Portland of the South pt. 2. In Portland, Oregon, going under the Morrison Bridge at midnight for southern food seems like a good idea every time. Yes, it’s dark, there are homeless tents scattered around, but Montage is still Portland. Park and go on in. If it was any […]

TRAVEL ENGLAND WITH FOREVER YOUNG MILLENNIALS

  Aging in travel England Some moments remain frozen in time for better or worse. Remember when you missed middle school graduation and summer football workouts? Your parents decided to drag you around England instead. And your life was ruined. That last thing you wanted to do was be a show pony for your folks. […]

Get Your Medical History In Another Language

In The Hospital And You Don’t Speak The Language. Now What? Do you like new places, the sort where you step off a plane and think, “It looks normal enough,” but you know it’s not? You know because you showed up after language immersion and Rosetta Stone, and you still don’t understand what anyone says. […]

More Posts from this Category