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REAL PEOPLE FROM HISTORY

February 1, 2026 by David Gillaspie

Real history gets more realistic when granddaughters tell about their family. I’ve got grandkids. Maybe you’ve got grandkids, too? Imagine them in the future, telling your story. What would it sound like? This comes from a comment on Stumbling Stones Of Harsh History:

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, Baby Boomers, blessing, civil service, crime, deported, education, Family history, firing squad, germany, grade school, historian, history, history book, holocaust, illegal arrests, leadership, learning, memories, people, read history, real history, real people, Stolpersteines, stumbling stones, writer, writers, writing, WWII, wwii history

TRAVELING MAN ON THE LOOSE

August 17, 2025 by David Gillaspie

One traveling man says he wouldn’t cross the street if he didn’t have to. Another says crossing the street is no problem, but he’s not going far after that. That’s enough travel for them. It’s enough for me, too. I understand the reluctant traveler. Growing up in North Bend, Oregon, Hwy 101 was hyperspace compared […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: australia, blog, boomerpdx, china, click bait, conviction, Czechia, harsh realities, hwy 101, hyperspace, I-5, Iraq, israel, job, married, memories, my opinion, my work, North Bend, opinion, Oregon, party, readers, reluctant traveler, responsibilities, Russia, serious page, space, space travel, Spain, the world, travel, travel warning, traveler, traveling man, work, world blog

CONTINUING LEGACY, CONTINUING STORY

August 6, 2025 by David Gillaspie

When a continuing legacy includes another brick in the wall, or sidewalk, it’s a reminder. Who does this? I do, as part of a group, a family group. What’s it a reminder for? The path ahead.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Army, brick in the wall, continuing legacy, continuing story, family, family group, farm raised, first house, Grandparents, history, LA, legacy, legacy brick, live chicken, memories, NYC, pfc gillaspie, philadelphia, reckless, regular army, shadow, shadow girl, story

COOK PARK BALLOON DAY

June 21, 2025 by David Gillaspie

Cook Park has an event every year, the annual balloon festival. We talk about going every year, but we’ve missed a couple. Not this year. And I found myself saying the same thing to anyone who’d listen.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: annual, balloon festival, beer, childhood memories, cook park, Coos County, coos county fair, county fair, first step, memories, myrtle point, North Bend, oregonians, overcast, rain, rainbow, strong, weather

BOOMMATES IS A THING?

May 1, 2025 by David Gillaspie

‘Boommates’ is a new translation for roommates, which is kind of catchy. But is it the new kind of new, or a recycle job, after all we did grow up with the Odd Couple. The movie came out in 1968.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: baby boomer, Baby Boomer blogger, Baby Boomers, BOOMER, boomer blogger, Boomer Roomer, boomer roomers, boomerpdx, boomers, boommates, Divorce, divorced, friendship, history, hot mommas, life, MARRIAGE, married, memories, odd couple, old boyfriend, old girlfriend, online search, parents, story, wedding anniversary, wife, writer, writing

ATTENTION SPAN DEBATE ON VALENTINES’S DAY: WHAT?

February 14, 2025 by David Gillaspie

A short attention span is normal? Older people like to joke about going into another room for some reason they can’t remember. It happens all the time, but there’s a hack: You have to stay in the room until you remember. That’s Michael Corleone wishing brother Fredo well.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: attention span, blog, blogger, boomerpdx, coment, debate, documentary, happy face, historical, history, Hubers, memories, museum, museum of you, Portland, Portlandia, Seahawk, valentine's day, wife, writer, writers, writing

CHANGING TRADITIONS NOTHING NEW?

November 29, 2024 by David Gillaspie

Changing traditions are nothing new to older people. Ask me how I know. And it’s a good thing, so don’t fight it. Is it time to change yet? This is what change looks like:

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: champagne, changing, changing traditions, charm school, charming, coors light, food, fruit cake, good thing, grown man, holidays, main dish, mature adult, memories, new, sides, starters, team, thanksgiving, traditions, wine

GROWING UP AND STAYING SHARP

November 19, 2024 by David Gillaspie

Growing up is a decision. It’s a decision to be on time, show up ready to go, and inspire others by your example. Like writing a blog, lol. The biggest decision to make? Decide to stay sharp, in spite of having sons.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: college football, decision, family, fathers, fresh memories, growing up, inspire others, internet information, looking back, memories, men, misinformation, multiple kids, multiple women, Oregon, Oregon Ducks, reddit, reliable source, sharp, sons, stay sharp, staying sharp, television

LANCASTER TO CAMBRIDGE? MISSION POSSIBLE

May 30, 2024 by David Gillaspie

Lancaster to Cambridge after eight days in Thurnham Hall? Looking at a four hour drive after six hours riding around the Lake District. Luckily I had a decompression day yesterday for lifting in the gym, a sauna, and a walk out in the fields before a nice dinner. Vacation, right? Or ‘Mission Possible.’

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: bath England, blog, blog post, Cambridge, car, England, English, Lake District, Lancaster, Lancaster to Cambridge, liverpool, london, memories, mission possible, remember, social structure, swindon, Thurnham Hall, transportation options, travel, travel memories, vacation, writing

PEP TALK? MY BEST MEMORY BEFORE A BIG WRESTLING MATCH

April 25, 2024 by David Gillaspie

When does a pep talk make all the difference? You’re warmed up, ready to go, just as the coach gives last instructions. As a high school wrestler in my second year, I needed all the pep I could get. Ordinarily you wouldn’t put a second year guy out against a well known mauler, but . […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: best memory, coach, coaching, competition, crosstown rival, cruel, desperate, desperate move, desperate time, duel meet, football, high school, instructions, loser, memories, memory, pep talk, plan, remember, rival, smart guy, sports, sure loss, tactical, tactical plan, tough enough, wrestling, wrestling match