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LIFE CYCLE: TOMATO KING 2026

The life cycle of tomatoes starts with an idea: ‘Let’s do something with the space we’ve got.’ When the space includes a side yard with lots of sun? Plant that tomato.

BUILDING HISTORICAL HEALTH WITH AN ‘EXPERIENCE’

The good doctor says ‘historical health’ is important for local and national well-being. The downside: you may discover things are not as you think they are. The upside: you may discover you’re better than you think. I call it Win-Win. Why?

DON’T TALK BACK TO WHO?

When someone says, “Don’t talk back to me,” what’s your first impulse? Give them some back talk, or shut up. You already know what they want. What about you?

JOIN OREGON HISTORY FOR THE PEOPLE

Oregon history is full of familiar names and places we remember from Mrs. Kraus’ third grade class. Statues around the state show them as they were. Their exploits are logged in libraries and museums. The Oregon Historical Society at 1200 SW Park, Portland Oregon is both museum and library. That’s a 2 for 1 if […]

WRITING PARTNERS? CHOOSE CAREFULLY

Two nights ago I watch Hamnet from the blue velvet couch with July 4th coming around the bend. It’s about Shakespeare, which isn’t a spoiler. One of the more helpful movie openings, it explained early that Hamnet and Hamet are the same name. The same. So I was set. Hamnet it is.

PIECES OF A LIFE TOGETHER, AND ‘THE PAST’

If you spend enough time with someone you may eventually get the feeling of living a life, of sharing a life, together. With that in mind, why wait until the last minute to get, or give, the flowers. Is there a plan for how to do that? How do two people put those pieces together? […]

THE CUVEE PROM PLAN: TUXEDO REQURIED

The Cuvee prom plan works when the star align: A birthday? An anniversary? A retirement? Combine all three and it’s time to break out the tuxedo? Yes, it’s time.

HISTORICAL FATHER’S DAYS 2026

Historical Father’s Days in the olde country where I watched my children roam like Vikings conquering a new land. Corfe Castle fell to my marauders. The locals didn’t like our style of exploration. The walkway through the ruins led to more investigation off the path. “How would you like it if we went to your […]

RETURNING REVERENCE TO IT’S RIGHTFUL PLACE

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 […]

CLEAN LIVING FOR A QUIET LIFE

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 […]