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STRONGER TOGETHER IS THE GOAL

June 15, 2020 by

The team is always stronger together, stronger than the separate parts. If a superstar has a bad day on a good team, they still have a chance to win because the group can carry the load. The same idea works in neighborhoods, communities, cities, and towns. They are all stronger together than they are apart. […]

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SADNESS AND THE ONLY CHILD ALONE ON THEIR DAY

April 12, 2020 by

The Smothers Brothers comedy team had a routine that fit every family, except only child families, when one said to the other, “Mom always liked you best.” Every brother or sister who hasn’t said that missed a golden opportunity for a guilt ridden jab, deserved or not. In some homes it has to go unsaid […]

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STORY TIME STORY WITH DAVE, OR IS IT DAVID

April 1, 2020 by

Story time begins with tradition. What tradition, you ask? All good stories begin the same. They might still be good stories, but not classic Story Time. Once Upon A Time:

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BOOMER PARENTS: HOW KIDS LEAVE A MARK

December 19, 2019 by

A peppy forty-nine year old single man was feeling down, feeling the holiday blues. I did what boomer parents do, I butted in; it’s an auto-response. He said he lived too far away from relatives to visit family and make it all better. I could feel his sadness, so I tried to talk him back […]

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TIME MOVES ON WITH A DEGREE OF SADNESS

August 30, 2019 by

Time moves on when you see is a collection of kid bikes, the same collection Toys R Us sold. The same bikes the rich kids rode, the hand-me-down bikes, and the bikes kids rode into teen hood. Lots of bikes going one place: The scrap yard.

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HOW TO ‘GROW UP AND GET OVER IT’

August 7, 2019 by

There are people and places that will hurt your feelings. Since my feelings have been hurt and I learned to grow up and get over it, I will share how that works. Learning to grow up isn’t something that comes and goes, not when new challenges require new ways to grow. I thought people a […]

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MARRIAGE HEALTH: 5 KEYS TO LASTING HAPPINESS

July 29, 2019 by

1. Share Marriage Health Goals Husband: Stay married. Wife: Staying married. A marriage health goal of staying married may sound redundant, but not when so many marriages end early. Married couples need to ask one question when they are out without the spouse: Is this good for my marriage?

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ENOUGH LEADERSHIP? WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH?

January 10, 2019 by

    Talk to any reliable construction contractor about when enough is enough and they say two things: It’s enough when you run out of money to do more. And it’s enough when you run out of time and need to wrap things up. Ask any self respecting parent how they decide when enough is […]

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FAMILY TIES OVERCOME SOME THINGS, NOT OTHERS

January 9, 2019 by

    Everyday I wake up I see a little gold tree with small family portraits hanging from the bare branches. Maybe you’ve got one that looks like the top image? That’s not mine. Mine used to be on my childhood fireplace mantle beside my grandfather’s railroad watch. Now I’ve got them both, and they’ve […]

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Portland Welcome Mat: How To Walk Around Downtown Portland

August 20, 2018 by

    One of the great things about sponsoring foreign exchange students after your own kids have been out of college for years is rolling out the welcome mat.   The Portland welcome mat. And dragging everyone possible along the Portland Trail.   My wagon train always starts with Saturday Market and the sort of […]

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