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MY TOGETHERNESS: HOW IT STARTED, HOW IT’S GOING

My togetherness started in my mom’s backyard with the girl in the blue summer dress, the one she wore when I first saw her. We seemed to get along okay in NW Portland, so I took a flier and had her meet the family. Everyone was in Eugene for my granddad’s visit from Texas. My […]

INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY FADES WITH NEW TEAM

I’m a fan of institutional memory, the part that solves nagging problems that don’t go away on their own. Unfortunately, the people who hold it can be a part of the problem. In small business, the new fixer comes in with knowledge gained in a good school, and experience from the last job they fixed, […]

CONTINUING LEGACY, CONTINUING STORY

When a continuing legacy includes another brick in the wall, or sidewalk, it’s a reminder. Who does this? I do, as part of a group, a family group. What’s it a reminder for? The path ahead.

LIFE CHOICE MAKES YOU GREAT

One life choice can make all the difference. Things were tough on the Oregon Trail and people needed a break. The Donner Party started with a little known shortcut through the mountains. If you don’t know the story, click here. It turned out to be the wrong choice.

MUTUAL INTEREST FOR THE LONG HAUL

Start with mutual interest, something you both like. In the beginning every new discovery is a happy revelation.   “You know how to cook? So do I.” “What’s this?” “Dinner.” “Oh.”

PUBLIC PEOPLE IN PRIVATE PLACES

Public people are just like the rest of us. They just find themselves in front of cameras more often than not. Now that everyone has a camera everyone’s a journalist, everyone’s a star. And everyone loses a little more of their private place.

TOP DOG? OR LAST DOG

Every dog I’ve had in my married life has been the top dog, starting with Lucky. We were talking about it when the kids were small. One of my wife’s friends heard about the talking and called to say she had one for us. The perfect dog.

MARATHON FAMILY MATTERS

This is my marathon family. We all lived in Seaside at the time. I couldn’t tell you any of their names because I don’t know them. But they’re still family, temporary family.

FATHERS DAY AFTER CLASS IN SESSION

My Fathers Day go-to family picture: A thirty year old man with three sons and a wife who looks like Jackie Kennedy taken in 1960. The old man has an expression asking, ‘What have I gotten myself into.’ It’s a father’s look, the same look over the gates. It never gets old. That’s me in […]

THE RIGHT SHIRT PULLS EVERYTHING TOGETHER

What is the right shirt for the occasion? As all fashionistas know, it depends on the occasion. You don’t want to go too over the top as much as you don’t want to look like you could care less. Try not to channel your inner-Lady Gaga. This was the right shirt for the No Kings […]