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REALITY REGISTER HOME CAREGIVER STYLE

Longtime readers and followers of boomerpdx know the reality register. I learned about it during my home caregiving years. My father in law had Parkinson’s and dementia. I was his link to living at home instead of a nursing home, assisted living, or other accommodations. Picking him up when he was down included reality register. […]

AMERICA: LOVE IT, LEAVE IT, OR STICK AROUND AND MAKE IT BETTER

America, love it or leave it, is a sentiment that echoes from past decades. The silent generation decided to speak up, finally, when their kids grew hair and talked about what America meant to them. Hippies decided to try and make it better by going to the country, going organic, macrobiotic, and talking it up. […]

Violence, Anger, And The Great Sadness

    Where does it come from, this violence, anger, and sadness? We’re not born with it, according to experts.   The same experts say we learn certain behavior.   How to explain unexplained violence? When is the right time to lash out and hurt?   Another writer, another blogger, might roll out their research […]

Another Moment Of All American Serendipitous Patriotism

    “If you’ve ever wondered what you’d have done had you lived during the era of slavery, the Holocaust, or the Civil Rights Movement — whether you’d have stood & spoken up; whether you’d have intervened to help someone or been complicit in harming them through your silence — you have your answer.   […]

All American Moment Of Serendipitous Patriotism

    One fine summer day in Philadelphia I found myself walking east on Market Street in the company of friends and family toward Independence Hall.   The Liberty Bell was still in residence.   I remember aunts and uncles and cousins and roommates all hiking toward the July 4th, 1976 Bicentennial speech given by […]

Portland Bird Flip To The Rest Of You

    The Portland bird is one thing, the Portland bird flip a whole ‘nother thing.   If it’s not this, it’s that for Portland. Close to the mountains, close to the beach, and if the pace of new building is any indicator, close to the new neighbors.   Like any city over a certain […]

Cultural Exchange Without Leaving Home

  Last night my cultural exchange student, better said as ‘our’ cultural exchange student, prepared dinner for seven.   And the kid can cook.   I know the difference when someone mails it in from the kitchen. How? Because someone I know tried doing it for years.   Me.   Now I’m much better and […]

Nature Inspires Art, Yellowstone Inspires Nature

    Driving Yellowstone is a trip back in time, and more than pre-historic time even though a dinosaur walking across the landscape wouldn’t be much of a surprise.   In this real life vision of Jurassic Park buffalo work just fine.   By back in time I mean a 45 mph speed limit and […]

Historical Debris: A Record Of Time

    Most museums have a bar they set for accepting historical debris, artifacts, one of a kind deals, and whatever an important person touched or signed.   Paul Revere silver, the last breath of Thomas Edison, the Magna Carta? No one is making any more of that stuff, so that’s a bar too high. […]

GILLASPIE LOVESEAT TO HONOR AMERICA. IT’S FRAGILE

    Who hasn’t been accused of making last minute presents? My specialty is carving names in oak with a router.   It takes practice, at least more than a last minute panic to produce something meaningful on Christmas morning.   I’ve been the object of such accusations, and while correct, there is a bigger […]