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PAIN WRITERS: GUIDELINES FOR A PAINFUL STORY

January 12, 2022 by

Pain writers draw inspiration from two sources: Their own pain. Someone else’s pain. The source of pain is a standard feature. Pain writers want you to feel it. For example:

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THUNDER ROAD ON NW LOVEJOY, PORTLAND

January 7, 2022 by

Thunder Road is a map of the love/hate relationship I’ve felt for Bruce Springsteen since 1975. I love that Bruuuuuce has persevered beyond all expectations. I hate the decision I made when Mary Anne in the Philadelphia clinic invited me along with her friends to see the local phenom across the river in New Jersey. […]

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2021 REVIEW: MOST READ POSTS ON BOOMERPDX

December 31, 2021 by

The 2021 review shows 14,941 readers visited here for 19,549 ‘views.’ It’s the second highest number of visitors after a decade of writing on BoomerPDX. While big-time bloggers see these numbers as a good afternoon of traffic instead of a year, I’m still tickled to reach anyone anywhere. The only disappointment in the 2021 review […]

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MARIO CRISTOBAL BIGGEST WIN? STICK AROUND, FIND OUT

December 6, 2021 by

Mario Cristobal and his biggest win? For most people it stands out in a lifetime of effort. It’s the crowning achievement, the top of the top, and oddly enough it means more to the winner than anyone else. At least it should. Take the head football coach at the University of Oregon, for instance. What […]

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PORTLAND CROSSROADS: SW 3rd AND ALDER

December 4, 2021 by

The Portland crossroads are the same at every intersection. North, East, South, and West. It’s the same where you live if you don’t live in Portland. Pick a side and proceed with caution. Why SW 3rd and Alder? Why not. What’s your favorite? Burnside and Broadway? Too easy. Burnside and the Willamette? Here’s the deal: […]

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SATISFACTION: NOT ENOUGH, NEVER ENOUGH, CAN’T GET NO?

November 30, 2021 by

That moment of satisfaction where you relax, count your blessings, and reflect on what just happened? It’s a project just finished, a trip out of town, a night with the kids. You didn’t look for it, but you found some of that satisfaction. Maybe you didn’t recognize it at first. Or ever have. Now you […]

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PERSONAL IDENTITY: WHAT TO LOOK FOR

November 3, 2021 by

Personal identity starts the moment you meet someone. You’ve got yours, they’ve got theirs, and the games begin. Maybe you go first and talk about the love you feel for where you grew up. Or they go first and talk about why they left where they grew up as fast as they could. After that […]

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HEALING PROCESS? “BUT YOU LOOK FINE.”

October 19, 2021 by

The healing process starts after a problem is identified. At least that’s the normal step. ‘Normal’ being the operative word. If something feels off, you get checked out, and you were right. Something is indeed ‘Off.’ It’s a lump, a bump, a mole, a dry cough, night sweats, chest discomfort. Need I go on? Why […]

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FEELINGS MATTER, A REVIEW OF WHY ON SAUVIE ISLAND

October 9, 2021 by

Feelings matter when you see yourself in a forty year old reflection. In the image I’m looking through a window with another window shining on the other side. Every year for decades a crew would go to Sauvie Island and prepare a historical house for the upcoming season. Every room was cleaned, inventoried, and filled […]

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ACCUMULATED CRAP NEEDS NEW TREASURE VAULT HOME

October 4, 2021 by

‘Accumulated crap’ is the name for important collections started so long ago I forget the point. It’s also the name for the avalanche of stuff from living long enough to get dumped on. Getting dumped on isn’t the best way of describing accumulated crap, but it fits the theme. If like attracts like, then my […]

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