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GOOD EXAMPLE HARD TO FIND, HARD TO KEEP

“Be a good example.” Who’s heard this before? It starts early. If you have a younger brother or younger sister you’ve heard it before them. You’re it. As you collect birthdays you come to realize that being a good example is a life long job.

ADD LOVE TO A BLUE BIRD-SEAGULL DAY

Try and add love to every day, but it’s easier after a stormy night Does a clear sky clear the mind? It might, it might not, but at least it’s better than standing around in the cold, the wet, and the wind. Add a clear beach to a clear day for perfection. But not too […]

BRIDGE CITY BRIDGES, PICK ONE AND CROSS IT FOR GOOD LUCK

Bridge city is that place, that town, any bump in the road that needs a bridge. Walking on or driving over any bridge is an act of faith. But we do it without a blink. After all, that’s how we cross a river, a bay. That’s how we get to the other side. With luck […]

BEER WRITING IS ABOUT DESTINATION BEER? NOT ALWAYS

Beer writing is about the new, the bold, the best beers on the market. It’s citrus beer, fresh hop beer, hazy and low-cal beer. From first beer to last beer, destination beer is still king. Go out for a new beer and you’ll get more than you bargained for if your destination is Kalama, Washington […]

PORTLAND WRITING: WHAT TO SAY AFTER IT’S ALL BEEN SAID

Portland writing classes made it seem like everyone in town was a writer. Publish a book and that’s good enough to fill a teacher’s role? Yes it is. Word of mouth got around, a friend offers space, and people pay to show up and listen. And learn. But what do you learn?

PAIN WRITERS: GUIDELINES FOR A PAINFUL STORY

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:

THUNDER ROAD ON NW LOVEJOY, PORTLAND

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. […]

2021 REVIEW: MOST READ POSTS ON BOOMERPDX

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 […]

MARIO CRISTOBAL BIGGEST WIN? STICK AROUND, FIND OUT

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 […]

PORTLAND CROSSROADS: SW 3rd AND ALDER

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: […]