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ON VETERANS DAY 2024

Veterans Day is for the old folks who remember their youth and those who were young with them. They remember the young people who didn’t have the chance to get old. My Dad got a chance to get old. He out-lived his Dad, just like I’m out-living him.

BIG DECISIONS ARE TOO HARD?

Big decisions come every day, one fastball after another. In the game of life, you stand in and take your cuts. You might get on base, you might strike out. Or you might opt out of the whole thing? Wait a minute.

‘NOTHING TO FEAR’ WITH WINSTON CHURCHILL AND GEORGE CLOONEY

“Nothing to fear, nothing to see, move along.” It’s just Winston Churchill strolling in his front yard. We had a Churchill lesson at his place, then another in his London war rooms. Our dude didn’t have smooth seas on the trip to joining the immortals of history.

MAKING TIME TO SHARE TIME

Making time for this, for that, but we still run out of time. On the run? From a Beaverton Farmers Market morning to a Waterfront Blues Festival evening, all the different faces turned into a blur. Some faces, not all.

ARMY LESSON: SALUTE THE UNIFORM NOT THE MAN

The big Army lesson for me was outlined by a Drill Sergeant. We were scheduled for an inspection by one of the big guys on base, some colonel named Blackjack something or other. But Colonel Blackjack got side tracked and they brought out the butter bar from the administrative office to cover for him. It […]

WIDOW MAKER: A LOGGER’S NIGHTMARE

My Grandpa on my mom’s side was her step-dad, though as kids we never knew it. Why? Because it didn’t matter. He was married to Grandma and she was a boss. Besides, he was the best choice between the three. One was a yeller, the other was far away, and Grandpa was just right. He […]

SAFE DATING OR SIDEWALK SERENADES

Safe dating is the goal for everyone brave enough to step out of their comfort zone, get off the couch, and open the front door. Whether long term, short term, husband-wife, blind date, or one of those high school reunion prince and princess things you hear about, safety is paramount. But, if you’re anything like […]

STORY DEVELOPMENT, THURSDAY NIGHT

Story development sounds like show business? But it’s more. It’s a revelation in a small group where people learn the ropes from a professional. The pro is Nancy McDonald. Nancy who?  

CALL THE MEDIC. ALL BETTER?

Call the medic when there’s something wrong, anything at all. MEDIC. Right here, pal. Calm down. All better? Good.

NOW WHAT? GREEN FATIGUE POWER

Another year? Now what? I gave the most important Christmas present this year, one that will resonate in eternity, or maybe through January. My two girls got their letterman jacket, their superhero cape, their cloak of invincibility. I broke out the ironing board and starch and scissors and applied them all to this game changer.