North Bend Archives • BOOMERPDX

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WANTED MAN vs NEEDED. THERE’S A DIFFERENCE?

September 5, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

If you’re waiting for a wanted man to make life better, you’ll be waiting a minute. This man was a one-float parade around Silverton during my last visit. You could hear him from blocks away with his booming sound system blasting AC/DC. When I left, he followed my car out of town, then turned back […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, education, family, history, learning, Love, love you, MARRIAGE, millennials, music, need you, North Bend, Oregon, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, silverton, Social media, story, town characters, travel, want you, wanted man, wife, writer, writers, writing

CLASSIC PORTLAND RIVALRY

September 3, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Social media Portland isn’t for the weak of heart. It’s either heaven on earth, or a hell hole from the underworld sticky goo. If you showed up recently, things are looking better; if you’ve been here a minute you’ve seen the ups and downs. Lastly, if you’ve lived here your whole life? Uh oh.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: baby boomer, Baby Boomer blogger, Baby Boomers, blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, chopping wood, classic portland rivalry, education, facebook, family, fitness, history, human rivalry, kids, learning, Love, millennials, North Bend, nostalgia, nostalgic, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, portland rivalries, rivalries, Social media, social media portland, wife, writer, writers, writing

YAMHILL COUNTY FAIR 2026, THE OLDEST COUNTY FAIR IN OREGON

July 31, 2026 by David Gillaspie

I went to the Yamhill County Fair for the rides? Noooo. Luckily I went with my wife and our friend (hey Josette) and they weren’t jumping in line. Neither was anyone else since we were there early. It opens at 10. So why drive out into the farmland past towns and graveyards full of pioneers? […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: 4H, americana, Baby Boomer blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, boomers, corndog, county fair, cows, education, family, farm animals, farming, goats, history, learning, mcminnville oregon, North Bend, Oregon, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, rabbits, ranching, Social media, story, travel, veterans, wife, writer, writers, writing, Yamhiill county, yamhill county fair

THROWBACK BEACH RUN TO SEASIDE

July 19, 2026 by David Gillaspie

Growing up in a coastal town took the drama out of any beach run. North Bend was surrounded by Coos Bay with a high tide creeping on Virginia Avenue and sometimes giving 101 a good rinse. With beaches to the north, south, and west, it was easy to find the right one. Going to the […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: baby boomer, Baby Boomer blogger, best self, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, collective willpower, facebook, family time, history, Love, North Bend, north seaside, ocean, oregon beach, Pacific Ocean, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, prediction, private beach, sand, seaside, Social media, story, the beach, travel, water, wife, willpower, writer, writers, writing

BUILDING HISTORICAL HEALTH WITH AN ‘EXPERIENCE’

July 16, 2026 by David Gillaspie

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?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, boomers, education, feeling better, historical experience, historical method, historical process, historical relevance, history, history bug, learning, loneliness, Love, MARRIAGE, millennials, North Bend, oregonians, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, practical purposes, reedsport, story, the vault, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing

WALK THAT LONESOME VALLEY, OR BABY SHARK, PICK ONE

June 28, 2026 by David Gillaspie

You know you’ve got to walk that lonesome valley. That’s just how it is. The part about walking it by yourself? I’m not so sure about that. I tried walking it by myself and got pretty far, even though I wasn’t alone. Technically.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: baby boomer, Baby Boomer blogger, baby shark, blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, lonesome valley, North Bend, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, Social media, story, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing

GREAT NEWS FROM MT. ANGEL AND JOHN ROSSI PODCAST

June 26, 2026 by David Gillaspie

The great news from Mt. Angel comes via the John Rossi Podcast visit to Lou’s Kitchen. The Kitchen is a big winner in Best of Willamette Valley 2026 claiming the Gold Medal for best all-round restaurant. When I opened the door the place was packed and buzzing at noon. One grilled chicken salad and an […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, Coos Bay, football, great news, history, john rossi podcast, Lous kitchen, Love, mt. angel, North Bend, Oregon, oregon day, podcast, Portland Oregon, sportsmanship, story, tiny's tavern, travel, wife, Willamette valley's best, writer, writers, writing

HISTORICAL FATHER’S DAYS 2026

June 21, 2026 by David Gillaspie

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 […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, Baby Boomers, blog, blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, college, college graduation, corfe castle, father, father's day, graduation, happy father's day, hay tor, HISTORICAL FATHER'S DAYS, history, kids, Love, MARRIAGE, married, North Bend, wife, writer, writers, writing

BETTER LISTENING SKILLS FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING

June 16, 2026 by David Gillaspie

If practicing better listening skills isn’t a life goal, it should be. How hard is it to pay attention? You did it in the classroom with the encouragement of a teacher. I still remember Mr. Kraus singing ‘Toot toot tootsie goodbye’ when he tossed little tootsie rolls to students with the right answer in algebra. […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, better understanding, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, boomers, brag, bragging, bro, education, good answer, grave robber, GUITAR, guitar player, history, listening, listening skills, North Bend, Oregon, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, science, Social media, story, teacher, understanding, wife, writer, writers, writing

LIFETIME MEMORIES FOR THE WHITE KNIGHT

May 29, 2026 by David Gillaspie

The man in white has made more than a few lifetime memories for me. But why the white knight? Because he came to the rescue a few times.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, basketball, blessing, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, education, memory, North Bend, North Bend Oregon, Oregon, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing