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PORTLAND, OREGON – 1971 – DRIVE CAREFULLY

September 1, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Portland, Oregon, city of dreams, or the end of the line. The end of the western line may be Astoria, but let’s stick to Portland. This blog post shows approaches to town on different roads. Well it’s all right, riding around in the breeze Well it’s all right, if you live the life you […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Astoria, Baby Boomer blogger, big picture, city of dreams, debarkation, debarkation line, drive carefully, education, end of the line, good company, history, life, native country, old portland, Oregon, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, Social media, stranded, stranger, writer, writers, writing

CUTTING WOOD WITH A CREW

February 22, 2026 by David Gillaspie

Like most kids growing up on the Oregon coast, like most people with a fireplace, I’ve spent time cutting wood. My brother and I hauled and chopped rounds my dad sawed from the logs washed up on the causeway connecting Hwy101 to the sand dunes. The old man was the boss. He said we could […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: America, baby boomer, Baby Boomer blogger, bad boss, big picture, blame, blog, blogger, boomerpdx, boss, cast aspersions, cast shame, committed, cutting, cutting wood, failures, Gerald Ford, good boss, good citizen, good president, good soldier, incompetence, interested, job, lie, president, shame, wood, work, writer, writing

PLANNED IGNORANCE? NOT SO FAST

August 1, 2025 by David Gillaspie

Planned ignorance is not a plan for everyone. Parents who complain about teachers when little Jimmy gets a bad report card? It’s not Jimmy’s fault and don’t you dare say it is; don’t even think it. And it’s not the parents’ fault. Just ask them. Better yet, check with parents whose kids are just starting. […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: big picture, brain development, careful parent, daycare, developing brain, high tuition, higher education, kids, learning envirnoment, NW Portland, Oregon, parents, plan, planned, planned ignorance, Portland, SE Portland, Southern Oregon, study hall, tuition, world events, young minds, young parents

FACING ADVERSITY FOR THE FIRST TIME, PANDEMIC EDITION

August 25, 2020 by David Gillaspie

The biggest take aways from facing adversity the first time are the tools and tactics we learn for the next time. And there’s always a next time. Maybe not as big as now, but the tools still apply. So, what are the tools needed for facing adversity? You’ve come to the right place, reader.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: adversity, baby boomer, bend oregon, big picture, boomers, caring closet, clothing, facing adversity, family, food, food adversity, human needs, North Bend Oregon, okay boomer, shelter, Tigard Oregon