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LEARNING HOW THINGS WORK? FIRST LEARN WORDS

Learning how to do anything takes a special effort when you already know everything. Then you find out what you’ve learned is wrong and your time and energy feels wasted? After that it’s pointing fingers, assigning blame. Or, there’s another way to justify the time and energy to learn how things work. Call it a […]

LIFE GOALS: BOOMERS FROM 58 TO 68

My life goals are simple. Like Marcus Aurelius, I believe the object of life is very clear: Stay off the lunatic fringe. And?

IMPORTANT PEOPLE NEVER TELL YOU, THEY SHOW YOU

Important people need one thing: Someone who knows how important they are. If it’s someone they like, even better. But what if no one feels important enough?

FAMILY PROTECTION ADVICE FROM A DADDY

Family protection comes down to two things: Threat, and perceived threat. Both trigger a need. Let’s start with threat:

GENERATIONAL MEMORY: A BLESSING OR A CURSE

Start writing about generational memory and you’ll need a shovel, then another shovel. Look into a family history and learn about angels and devils, but mostly angels if it’s told right. Why angels? Because the devils argue too much. They all say, “It wasn’t that bad.”

WELCOME MAT: THERE’S MORE THAN ONE

Welcome mat? What it means: It means you’re welcome at that particular door. But you knew that. It also means it’s up to you to stay welcome. This might be new territory for some of you.

FAMILY HISTORY FROM BOTH SIDES

Family history comes in two varieties: The first: We don’t talk about that side of the family. The second: We can’t say enough about that side of the family. That’s the starting place for going off the rails.

PEARL HARBOR LAUNDRY ON THE LINE

Pearl Harbor laundry is the same as any laundry; wet stuff drying on a line. I saw laundry waving in the wind while touring the Ford Island with a Navy man. It was on the back porch of officers’ housing with their name and rank posted in front. A warm breeze furled family business better […]

HARDEST WORKER? MOMS FOR THE WIN

Who is the hardest worker you know? If it’s not your Mom, or the mother of your children, you’re wrong. I know this how? Every baby boomer knows the answer.

FAMILY ROADSHOW WITHOUT THE ANTIQUES

The Family Roadshow is the same as the show on OPB but with livelier stories. Instead of, “This belonged to my great-great grandmother and it’s been handed down generation after generation,” why not The Truth? “I stole this off my grandpa at his wake,” Or, “This book used to be my Mom’s. She’s still looking […]