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A MERRY CHRISTMAS LOOKS LIKE:

December 25, 2023 by

  Johnny looks ready for some merriment? Or:

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NEW STORY PROBLEMS? CHANGE THE SETTING

December 24, 2023 by

New story problems are like cooking a chicken. You know how you’d like it to turn out, but that’s not how it always works. When it’s your Christmas story, and it’s December 24th, you’ve got work to do. Start with your story.

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CHRISTMAS CONTRAST: LONGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR

December 22, 2023 by

A Christmas contrast happens every year. Whenever some adult says, “I remember when I was a kid. Christmas was different,” is just the start. Different? Compared to what? Was Christmas nicer?

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SHORTEST DAY, LONGEST NIGHT . . . AGAIN

December 21, 2023 by

Today is the shortest day of the year? If that’s true, then the shortest day follows the longest night, or tonight is the longest night. There’s got to be some kind of astrological meaning, but I don’t know. What I do know is the night before Christmas used to last what felt like a week. […]

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DO PORTLAND CHRISTMAS LIKE A THREE YEAR OLD

December 16, 2023 by

A Portland Christmas goes one of two ways: “I will never set foot in that hell-hole.” Or? Peacock Lane? Let’s go.”

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HOLIDAY BUNDLE WRAPPED UP TOGETHER

December 14, 2023 by

What’s the usual holiday bundle? Lights, tree, presents. Add some snow and you’re all done. But then a day like yesterday adds something extra, something unexpected. There I was, sitting in a car dealership while my ride was in the garage. You know the drill?

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CHRISTMAS RULES FOR EACH OTHER

December 25, 2022 by

Christmas rules, even when it crowds my December birthday. I could complain, but it would be a stretch. This year I shared Christmas, and my birthday, with my dog’s first birthday. And others. It was a good kind of crowd.

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BETTER LIVING STARTED YESTERDAY

December 16, 2022 by

Better living begins the day you say it begins. It goes like this: “I will do things that I know will make a better life.” Boomers don’t ask what ‘better’ means. We know. This is for the younger people who still think they’re better.

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OREGON MEMBER RINGS THE CHRISTMAS BELLS

December 25, 2021 by

This Oregon member left the state to look around. Twice. And I found out why I like it here better than there. This is how I explain it to my kids:

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WRITER LIFE CHRISTMAS WHEN IT’S NOT ABOUT WRITING OR LIFE

December 24, 2021 by

Does ‘writer life’ mean writing about life, or the experience of someone who writes? Answer silently while you write about a life of writing. Writer’s Life? Mine began as a small child at my Grandma’s house. She handed me a book.

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