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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

RECLAIMING MY TIME ON SOUTHERN OREGON COLLEGE SIXTY-FIVE YEARS LATER

April 30, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Southern Oregon College Graduating Class of 1960: My dad. He transferred after two years at Central Oregon Community College in Bend. It was a well used path to the first college degree in his family. He was thirty years old, an old 30. Back then thirty was older, fifty was a grandparent. Hit sixty and […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: advanced degree, ashland oregon, baby boomer, blog, blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, davidpdx, education, GI Bill, higher education, historical recreation, learning, Love, Oregon, Oregon shakespeare festival, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Shakespeare, southern oregon college, southern oregon university, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing

PICK A SIDE AND STAY THERE, OR NOT

April 13, 2026 by David Gillaspie

What’s the problem when you pick a side? You’re stuck. You talked the talk, walked the walk, then something changed. But you’re stuck. Either stay on the bus as it goes off the bridge, or hit your eject button.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, blog, bloggers, boomerpdx, davidpdx, education, favorite people, greater good, history, Love, MARRIAGE, married, Oregon, pick a side, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, readers, subscribe, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing

HOW TO BE A FAMILY KING OF YOUR CASTLE

April 9, 2026 by David Gillaspie

The family king is who the light shines on. That’s key to remember. Grab a flashlight. The king doesn’t like bright lights, but it’s part of the job. What’s it take to wear that crown?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: behavior, bond, family, family king, king, Love, model behavior, no kings, portand, Portlandia, queen, respect, the king

CALDWELL COUNTY BBQ? HOLY COW

April 3, 2026 by David Gillaspie

This is Jimmy in the Caldwell County BBQ pit in Gilbert, Arizona. I was waiting for the occupied Men’s Room when we struck up a chat that was more historical than most history classes. He’s been running the show for a few years with the huge smokers, about five of them going full blast. On […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Arizona, bbq, bbq pit, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, burned bean, caldwell county, caldwell county bbq, food, gilbert arizona, historical, history, history class, learning, Love, Texas, wife

GROWING UP NEVER STOPS

March 30, 2026 by David Gillaspie

Remember the promise about growing up? “You’ll understand when you grow up.” “Things will be different when you grow up.” Now that you’re all grown up, how’s it going?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: aging, family, golden rule, grow up, growing up, grown up, history, Love, MARRIAGE, older, promises, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing

BUSY LIFE IN THE FAST LANE, PASSING LANE, OR . . .

March 28, 2026 by David Gillaspie

A busy life means making a difference to someone, to something, to somewhere. Take your pick. Pick more than one. What you can’t pick is anyone else’s priorities for their busy life. You can try, but why?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: baby boomer, Baby Boomer blogger, beer, blogger, boomerpdx, busy group, busy life, busy people, cigarettes, do your part, dui, fast lane, good health, grandkids, health, kids, life, Love, love train, passing lane, wife, writer, writing

QUIET LIFE STARTER KIT

March 19, 2026 by David Gillaspie

Does a quiet life begin with keeping quiet? If so, how’s it going? Or does it mean something else? Let’s go with something else:

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: bad decisions, be quiet, cheating, commitment, committed, Divorce, ex-wives, family, fidelity, kids, Love, MARRIAGE, marriage cheat, marriage cheating, marriage fidelity, married, quiet life, saving time, time, wife