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MICRO MEMOIR II: LEAVING TOWN CHRISTMAS PARTY

Leaving town used to be easy, if I remember right. Pack a bag, get in a car, hop on bus, and leave. “I’ll be there in a few days.” Same story going out to Brooklyn as leaving:

TEFLON DON TO VELCRO DON

Teflon Don was the name given to John Gotti for his slipperiness with law enforcement. Nothing stuck. They had the old gangster right up until it mattered. But he didn’t fit the old gangster mold. The big guy worked another angle. For this post I use only the most impeccable sources.

EFFICIENT DEXTERITY FOR DIFFICULT TIMES

Efficient dexterity means different things to different people? Like everything you try for the first time, or the millionth time, always remember one thing: Everyone is different and what matters to you and I doesn’t matter for everyone else. If you’re reading this I’m bunching you with my other readers. “BUNCH.” Now we’re all gathered […]

TRANSPORTATION DIARY: PUBLIC RIDES

A transportation diary clears up what is and what isn’t public transportation. It’s a bus, or a train, not your mom’s mini van. How many times have you counted on public transportation? My first daily bus ride started in Philadelphia.

MARRIED LIFE GOING LONG, LONGER, KEEP GOING

Married life seems long when you think how long you’ve been married. Then someone else says they’ve been married longer and calls you newly weds. Newly weds after thirty-seven years? That’s it? I keep it more basic: Every day has a first date feel. You remember first dates?

BOOK HOARDING ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS

Book hoarding is not a disease. If that makes you feel better, you might be a librarian. Not a librarian, but still have loads of books? Still not a disease, and here’s why:

DRAWING LINES TO LIVE BY?

Who is drawing lines to live by? Picasso did. Unfortunately, you’re no Picasso, I’m no Picasso, so why bother? We bother with lines and borders for a sense of control like, “Don’t go there, girlfriend.” The big Question Of The Day: Who draws borders when they’re on the same side of the line you’re on?

PORTLAND CROSSROADS: SW 3rd AND ALDER

The Portland crossroads are the same at every intersection. North, East, South, and West. It’s the same where you live if you don’t live in Portland. Pick a side and proceed with caution. Why SW 3rd and Alder? Why not. What’s your favorite? Burnside and Broadway? Too easy. Burnside and the Willamette? Here’s the deal: […]

NEW COMPASSION WITH A KIND RIGHT HAND

A new compassion has made its debut. And proved my Mom was correct. She believed most problems could be solved by slapping sense into whoever needed it. As one of her four kids, just hearing her theory was enough. Her career included managing a DMV office. (Keep that in mind the next time you complain […]

HOLDING GRUDGES TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF STRENGTH

Holding grudges is a time honored tradition between races, religions, nations, and families. “We don’t like them.” “Why don’t we like them?” “Why would we?” This exchange gets played out between young and old, men and women, brothers and sisters. Eventually holding grudges turns into something completely different than how it started because no one […]