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BAY MAN ON COOS BAY, THE WATER AROUND NORTH BEND

October 24, 2021 by

Who’s a bay man? I’m a bay man, and here’s why: Born on San Francisco Bay. Raised on Coos Bay. Married a woman named Bayes. Three for three settles it for bay man. I can smell bay from here by just looking at the top pic, and it’s comforting.

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OREGON STOPS: FROM CLAUSEN OYSTER TO CRESWELL BAKERY

September 14, 2021 by

The roads around here are not in drive-by country. Oregon Stops make you pull over, or turn around and go back if you missed the turn. Clausen Oyster is one such Oregon stop. What makes Clausen’s a good stop? Oysters in every size I could imagine. Even better?

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SANDCASTLES AT SUNSET

September 11, 2021 by

Sandcastles, from the most ornate to a bucket of wet sand turned upside down, all have one thing in common: They don’t last. But instead of mourning the loss of the castle, think of this: You have a chance to build another one, a better one, one that will last. Knowing it won’t last never […]

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NORTH BEND: A HOMETOWN IN THREE PARTS, 1, 2, 3

September 10, 2021 by

North Bend, Oregon has the same parts as anywhere else in the world. In my view, and I think you’ll agree, the three parts are: What I thought it was. What it is. How others see it. Sounds normal enough? It fits your hometown, too.

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HOLDING GRUDGES TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF STRENGTH

August 7, 2021 by

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 […]

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YOUR LANE? STAY IN IT OR HIT THE GAS ON A HIGHER CALLING

May 17, 2021 by

The “stay in your lane” reaction comes from the wrong sources. As if anyone knows which lane is right for you, but they sure know which one is wrong. It’s the wrong lane when you take others our of their comfort zone of who they think you are. But people change. Just not those who […]

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GREG STROBEL AWARDS MEDALS, CHANGES LIVES

October 10, 2020 by

In 1973, Greg Strobel was the best college wrestler in the NCAA Championship meet. The best of the best. A group of high school wrestlers from North Bend drove up to Seattle to watch the matches. We saw what greatness looked like toward the end of the finals when Greg Strobel stepped out on the […]

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FRIGHTENED MAN: WHAT SCARES THEM THE MOST

August 15, 2020 by

One thing about frightened man is they make lots of noise. They’re loud, yet never ask, “Can you hear me?” Instead, they keep the volume turned to eleven. How can you tell, besides the noise, if a frightened man is also nutty as hell?

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ROBIN RICHARDS TO THE RESCUE

July 19, 2020 by

Robin Richards top row center. Image via teamusa.org I grew up in a small Oregon town that had one big team, the wrestling team. And I wasn’t a wrestler, not yet. Instead, I played ball, the usual ball. And not very well, which made me question if I’d ever be more than washed up at […]

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GREEN CHAIN DANCER TELLS SISTER STORY

March 18, 2020 by

The green chain in the local plywood mill called for me after freshman year in college. I had a college loan and the job was the best for paying it off and putting money away for sophomore year. I was the new guy on the swing shift crew in 1974 with men who enjoyed a […]

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