In this Entry:Social Action/ Worker Memorial DayPersonal Reflection/ Young Worker FatalitiesBook Recommendations/ S.R. Stoner's Sage Series Social Action Graham Trainor, President, Oregon Labor Federation, AFL-CIO offers opening and closing remarks. Today is Workers Memorial Day. I suspect most Americans are unaware of this memorial for those lives lost on the job this past year. And … Continue reading Labor, Loss, and Literature: A Personal Entry
These days I typically come up with an idea for a blog and words roll around in my brain like marbles in a maze. Then I form the bits into some verbal slush and dictate a few paragraphs as I walk, before shaping them into (hopefully) interesting paragraphs on this blog. But occasionally I have … Continue reading Threads of our Community: KBOO, Wylog Fong, and Indie Bookstores
I've frequently referred to the Columbia River Bar Pilots and Columbia River Pilots (COLRIP) in my writing: my blogs, fiction and memoir. It's true too, that I can't think about the work they do without remembering Dad. Yes, Dad was an exuberant cheerleader for these mariners, and the work they do to keep ships moving … Continue reading River and Bar Pilots: Beyond the Romance
Songbook PDX, April 11, 2026 at Salon Rouge. Photo credit: Adam Strong. I enjoyed hanging out with other writers last night at Salon Rouge's Songbook PDX. Yes, to being in community during these edgy times. Even better: listening to a variety of writers share their work, followed by a song selection. Writers and poets like … Continue reading Heartstrings on Demand
I did not expect to be retired from my primary profession at this point in my life. Yet another reminder to expect that life will surprise us. No matter what kind of planning we do. And to be prepared to roll in new or different directions. It's been just over a year since I officially … Continue reading Navigating Life Changes: Insights on Retirement