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WHO LIES ABOUT ABANDONING NYC

March 19, 2019 by

I spoke to a woman recently who moved to Portland Oregon from Brooklyn New York, just casual conversation in a Safeway line. We had something in common since I moved here from the same place, though she didn’t start in North Bend Oregon. She was big city all the way with no perspective on the […]

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WHY WRITING? WHY WRITE A CANCER BOOK?

March 17, 2019 by

This is gonna be short because I’m writing a cancer book. See what I did there? Didn’t say writing ‘my cancer’ book. Cancer book is more than enough. The whole ‘my cancer’ talk is a bad track. Who really wants to claim it like that. Instead, I’m giving it a good thrashing, plowing the cancer […]

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WHAT I LEARNED BY STARTING A RANGE FIRE

March 15, 2019 by

Like how to put it out. During a high school sports trip a team in two vans drove through Wyoming. If memory serves, Wyoming was the closest state to Oregon selling fun fireworks like bottle rockets and firecrackers after a lifetime of sparklers and Piccolo Petes. Since we were high school guys in both vans, […]

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TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS LOVE

March 13, 2019 by

The best thing art offers us is revelation. Last night at Tiny Beautiful Things (TBT) was no exception. The worst thing art offers us is truth after the revelation. TBT showed I lack the same empathy gene as Cheryl Strayed. And I was shocked. I love the idea of reaching out in love, of putting […]

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TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN PORTLAND OREGON

March 12, 2019 by

Today’s the day, Tiny Beautiful Things day, at Portland Center Stage at the Armory. Truth is it could be any play and I’d still go. PCS used to be the go-to stage in Portland for my mother in law and my wife. After she shuffled off this mortal coil, I picked up the slack. Now […]

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MOURNING PERIOD: WHO SETS THE CLOCK

March 11, 2019 by

Loss affects everyone; response to loss varies. A death in the family can be a devastating event, and it can be a release. Sudden death is the stunner. One moment the lights are on, the next it’s all dark. No good bye, no so long, no nothing, just an empty place where someone used to […]

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MUSIC PLAYS YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU PLAY MUSIC

March 8, 2019 by

Music asks this question: Can you count to four? One. Two. Three. Four. Like that. Over and over the count goes on like a mantra. One Two Three Four Is there anything more?

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PORTLAND JAZZ FAN? WHO KNEW

March 6, 2019 by

Last night I saw Mel Brown at The Vault and it was stellar. Portland jazz has a new fan. Make that three new fans. Jazz is easy, right? No it’s not. It’s key changes, tempo, and timing. And practice. Mel Brown has been a Portland jazz anchor; his group has a regular gig at the […]

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THE BOOK OF YOU THIS TIME

March 5, 2019 by

Who can predict the future? There’s no book that tells the tale. If you know someone who says they can predict the future, feel free to ignore them. This blog doesn’t come from the future, it’s right now. Maybe a little history of days past mixed in, but it always circles back to today. Now. […]

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BOOK OF DAVID, pt 1: How To Encourage Those Of Faith Without Losing Sight Of Your Own Beliefs

March 4, 2019 by

The real post title is Book of David and how I encourage those of faith without losing sight of MY own beliefs. I went second person plural in the title to create community, so it’s not all about me all the time. That’s my secret. Most writers don’t pull back the curtain back that. You’re […]

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