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PORTLAND DREAM DIES? NO, THIS ISN’T DETROIT, BUFFALO, OR MINNEAPOLIS

July 21, 2020 by

Big question: Is the Portland Dream dead? From a coin flip on the banks of the Willamette River, to a human shield of protest moms downtown, what was the dream to begin with? It’s a big question, one that gets asked when the biggest town in the state pulls a federal response to Black Lives […]

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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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MASK REMINDER FOR THE HARD OF LEARNING

July 18, 2020 by

This mask reminder comes via a piece of wood and duck bones. The wood is Doug Fir bark, the tree that made Oregon famous, after all it’s the State Tree. Boomerpdx customers have seen this image before. It has it’s own history, like most everything else.

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FLOWERS CELEBRATE AS SEASONS COME AND GO

July 16, 2020 by

Flowers celebrate every year on this fence. They all wait their turn to shine. The last one never sees the first one. The queen of the fence asks, “Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality. Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see.”

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NEEDY READERS? GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT

July 15, 2020 by

What do needy readers want? Tastes change, fads come and go, but the top selling book of all time is pretty clear. Across all platforms one book stands higher than all the rest. Do you need a hint? Think ‘Tale of Two Cities.’ Wait, that’s the title. Damn. The big question: Is it worthy? What […]

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BOOMER WRITER WHO DOESN’T WRITE EXPLAINS ‘PROCESS’

July 14, 2020 by

You’ve seen the boomer writer in a coffee shop, or at least used to before covid took up residence. They have a table, a backpack, and coffee, while they unpack like a campout. That’s the early stage. Later, they show their work place, a replica of the one they wanted to avoid, their home desk. […]

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BASIC WRITER QUESTION: WHY BOTHER

July 13, 2020 by

The best writer question is the one they ask themselves before starting their daily word haul. It’s a question writers never want readers to ask, so they ask themselves: Why bother? Here’s why:

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HIDDEN BOOMER WHEN YOU SCRATCH THE SURFACE

July 12, 2020 by

Hidden boomer is like fine silver; more tarnish means better silver. Take that nasty looking spoon through a cycle of good polish and what happens? It turns into the star of the silverware drawer, a favorite for dipping and stirring. What happens when a nasty looking boomer gets cleaned up? Adjust expectations accordingly.

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LIVING LIFE THAT PASSES THE TEST OF TIME

July 11, 2020 by

Living life? If that’s the answer you hear after asking someone how they’re doing, keep talking. Living the dream? Living life to the fullest? Those are okay, but living life is a problem? Why not ask a question, accept the answer, and move on? Because you care so damn much it hurts. Is that it?

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AGING GRACEFULLY? WHAT ARE THE OTHER OPTIONS

July 10, 2020 by

Freud’s Couch Aging gracefully can be a goal. If nothing else, it’s a check-in moment you do for yourself. Some check-in from the couch, some from the bench in a weight room, some not at all. At least that’s what they say. Ask someone their age. If they make a big show out of remembering […]

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