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MAY 1986, THE LAST WEDDING

May 10, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

It was a cloudy, wet, day, in May 1986 for the last wedding. Like so many raised on the Oregon coast, a cloudy, wet, day, is good luck no matter where you are. Everything was done, everything set in Sandy, from rented morning coats to a rented preacher. The preacher was a second choice.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, family, history, last wedding, Love, MARRIAGE, wedding, wedding anniversary, wedding day, wedding vows, wife, writer, writers, writing

SHARING SPECIAL DAYS, EVERY LAST ONE

May 9, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Special days have special meaning which don’t hit the same for everyone. For some it’s repeating, “Why bother,” for the fortieth time. Others like to say, “I thought we’ve moved past all that.” But you still find those looking for something special in every day, and keep looking until they find it. Hell or high […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: anniversary, Baby Boomer blogger, bliss, boomer bliss, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, dear readers, education, family, fingers crossed, gift ideas, history, learning, Love, love notes, MARRIAGE, Oregon, party, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, readers, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing, youth culture

OLD PORTLAND, YOUNG PARENTS

May 8, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Make that old Portland, youngish parents. Or not so old Portland, and not so young parents. We weren’t teenagers, but if you ever want to feel like one push a stroller around downtown. With two kids it’s like a double punishment, like sent to your room AND missing dinner. What else?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, boomers, education, family, history, kids, Love, MARRIAGE, married, old portland, Oregon, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, young parents

NORTH BEND HEROES START HERE

May 6, 2026 by David Gillaspie 1 Comment

Calling North Bend a small town is a disservice to real small towns everywhere. Driving south on 101 and crossing the North Bend Bridge takes you under this sign. If you’re not paying close attention and keep going the same direction, the entire area of the largest metro complex on the Oregon coast feels like […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, Coos Bay, davidpdx, family, high school wrestling team, history, married, memory, North Bend, North Bend Bulldogs, Oregon, Oregon Coast, remember, state champion, still alive, the future, travel, wife, working, wrestling, wrestling team, writer, writing

READING HISTORY LIKE IT MEANS SOMETHING?

May 5, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Reading history is the same as reading a story, but it comes with a bonus: You can check the validity of the history story, check the sources, visit the places history happened and is still happening. When old people check sources it’s because they have nothing else to do? Baby boomers visit historical sites not […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: accomplished writers, addiction, America, Baby Boomer blogger, blue book, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, chaucer, college classes, davidpdx, drug addict, drunk, education, energy, history, new yorker, paris, playboy, reading, reading a book, reading history, stoned, story, the Canterbury Tales, time, wife, writer, writing, WWII

DIFFERENT SOLDIERS? HOW DIFFERENT

May 2, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

The men in uniform during WWII were different soldiers, different kind of people. The Axis powers carried an extreme devotion to duty, an extreme devotion to their emperor, and an extreme devotion to cruelty over helpless victims. By the way, this isn’t new, not breaking news, but a reminder for short-memoried morons who ought to […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: America, Baby Boomer blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, different soldiers, education, extreme devotion, germany, historical, history, holocaust, illegal orders, japan, kadena air base, learning, men in uniform, moral clarity, moral superiority, ramstein air base, soldiers, surrender, travel, writer, writers, writing, WWII

THE LEADING AGE, I MEAN LEADING EDGE

April 27, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

The leading age comes after long years of experience, and putting it into practice for the benefit of others. The best blacksmith in town learns to pound steel into the correct form and he teaches others the same skill before his elbow sidelines him. The best woodworker shapes stock into useful pieces and helps others […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, blue collar, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, business leaders, ceo, coach, construction workers, davidpdx, decision makers, education, ELECTED OFFICIALS, google AI, history, learning, MARRIAGE, married, mentor, money, money guys, prime, tradesmen, travel, wife, workers, working class, writer, writers, writing

SERVING BITTER TRUTH ON SPECIAL WITH A SIDE OF MOVE ALONG

April 25, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

What’s worse than seeing a big strong man taken down by bitter truth and forced to accept responsibility for their actions? They say what they need to say, then say it again when more details come out. And there’s always more details. I’m left asking why this happens so often? It’s disturbing, disruptive, and ultimately […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: America, American, american standard, bitter truth, blonde babes, boomerpdx, business decision, change, choice, decision, disappointing, education, freedom, history, hugh hefner, improvement, lasting change, learning, playboy, progress, promises, reckless hack, sleep deprivation, story, truth, well heeled, wife, writer, writing

LESSON PLAN FOR TODAY: COMMON HISTORY

April 21, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

First we review what makes up a lesson plan. Wiki says: A lesson plan is a teacher’s detailed description of the course of instruction or “learning trajectory” for a lesson. A daily lesson plan is developed by a teacher to guide class learning. Details will vary depending on the preference of the teacher, subject […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: basic training, boomerpdx, common history, fitness, history, learning, lesson plan, mr. Smithsonian, museum, music, remedial, school, Social media, story, students, teacher, writer, writing, WWII

DO WHAT MATTERS BECAUSE YOU MATTER

April 16, 2026 by David Gillaspie 2 Comments

When you find yourself asking ‘what really matters anymore’ the correct answer is ‘You matter,’ which isn’t a problem until you start doing weird shit to prove it. Like what? Look around, get the news, and some days it seems like there’s an effort being made to make you feel like you don’t matter. How […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, baseball, boomerpdx, cult, do what matters, enthusiasm, family, fitness, good choice, grew up, history, Jonestown, kids, kool aid, learning, matter more, poison, safe choice, sports, story, what matters, writer, writing, WWII, you matter