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FOLLOW THE LEADER? NOT SO FAST

June 19, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

‘Follow the leader,’ they say. ‘It’ll be a fun learning experience.’ If that’s a green light for you, take another look. Maybe ask a question like, ‘Where are we going?’

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RETURNING REVERENCE TO IT’S RIGHTFUL PLACE

June 15, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

There’s a scent of reverence in the air, of returning reverence after a long pause. It started in my doctor’s office where I’d been called to sit on a panel with others. One of the others was Roy Pittman, one of my personal heroes. The next time I saw the doctor he told me he […]

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CLEAN LIVING FOR A QUIET LIFE

June 13, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Clean living is an art form, and like all art it takes practice. Yes, we’re talking about practice. It takes practice to talk without a particular tone, without too much edge. Do that and you may have a productive conversation. Go ahead and save the tone and edge for people you don’t know, who don’t […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, blog, blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, clean living, education, family, fear, learning, life experience, life story, MARRIAGE, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, quiet life, wife, writer, writers, writing

I READ THE NEWS TODAY OH BOY

June 12, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

The news today is all about world events. News organizations deliver it every day with the same hype and urgency. News hounds consume every detail and load it onto the pile they carry in case someone asks them ‘what’s up?’ That’s when you brace yourself for the headlines as if they’re coming from an anchorman. […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: boomer blogger, boomerpdx, boyfriends, education, family, family reunion, girlfriends, good life, grandkids, high school, kids, learning, life, lifelong guide, married, memory, news, news today, sassy, smart, stories, story, women

OFF THE HOOK IN GOLDEN YEARS?

June 8, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

As the golden years of retirement stretch out before you there are a few things to keep in mind. Probably more than ten line items, but this is a start. You don’t have to agree with any of them, but pick and choose in any order. I’ll start:

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, boomers, cooking, education, family, fitness, food, GOLDEN YEARS, history, kids, kitchen, learning, married, mental stimulation, millennials, music, Oregon, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, recipe, relax, social interaction, Social media, sports, story, twitter, volunteer, wife, workout, writer, writers, writing

HISTORICAL ACCURACY? IMPORTANT, OR NOT

June 6, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

I’m a fan of historical accuracy, of a story that stands up to scrutiny not opinion, My feeling is that the people involved in historical events deserve the decency of applied history. How to apply history? It’s all about the sources.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: accuracy, applied history, Baby Boomer blogger, Baby Boomers, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, casual killing, D-Day, decisive leaders, dismissive death, education, family, historical, historical accuracy, history, history sources, Internet, leaders, learning, married, opinion, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, respect, scrutiny, settled history, Social media, story, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing, WWII

MAKING THE CANCER CALL 2026

June 5, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Ten years ago I got the cancer call. Me: Hello. Doc: Are you sitting down? Me: Yes. (I was in the bathroom.) Doc: The tests came back. You have cancer. Me: That’s not good.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: baby boomer, Baby Boomer blogger, boomer blogger, cancer, cancer call, cancer patients, cancer terror, clinic, doctor, education, learning, medicaid, medical, medicare, medicine, mental health, miracles, modern medicine, physical health, story, stunned disbelief, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing

BOOK BUYBACK AT POWELL’S BEAVERTON

May 30, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

A book buyback trip to Powell’s Beaverton store usually hurts my brain. This time was no exception. Ouch, my head. Out of four bankers boxes full of books this is the shot of what they bought back. Am I buying the wrong books?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, Baby Boomers, beaverton, book, book buyback, books, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, buying, buying books, education, history, learning, Oregon, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, powell's, Powell's beaverton, reader, reading, reading books, story, wife, writer, writers, writing

HELPING OTHERS DO THEIR JOB?

May 26, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Helping others has always been a trend. We are remembered if we help others and you want to be remembered don’t you? Remembered for more than your stunning good looks and colorful repartee? Be helpful. But not too helpful. There is a standard, after all.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, Baby Boomers, BOOMER, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, caregiver, customer service, education, family, family caregiver, help, helping, helping others, history, learning, Love, Oregon, over Dave, people pleaser, raving kook, Social media, story, wife, writer, writers, writing

Time beginning, the MIDDLE, and end

May 23, 2026 by David Gillaspie

Where is time beginning every day? Somewhere in England. I was there during one of my drives through the English countryside in a tiny Vauxhall with my wife and two gigantic teenagers inside. Did they enjoy their historical moments in the olde country, their strolls along legendary paths? Yes, they did.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: boomer blogger, boomerpdx, Death, education, end, end of time, English countryside, family, history, kids, learning, live it up, Love, MARRIAGE, middle, new ways, Oregon, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Social media, time beginning, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing