I feel very loved: thank you for sharing your support upon the release of Humanity’s Grace. If you missed some of the excitement you can catch up by reading this (front page) article in the West Linn Tidings (West Linn author reflects on life's interconnectedness in new book), and this bit in the Astorian (In … Continue reading About that book launch…
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Sixty, American Pie and the dental drill
Today I turned sixty. Yes, sometimes my writing reads like a stream of consciousness. More recently, maybe less so. Today, I am certain, probably more so. Sixty. Sixty years ago, as Mom's nurse or doctor at Portland’s Good Samaritan Hospital told her “not yet,” she and Dad crossed Northwest 23rd Avenue to Quality Pie Shop. … Continue reading Sixty, American Pie and the dental drill
Caring is creative, gratitude nourishes us all
Neighborhood friend Asa shares his tennis ball. It was after my dad died six years ago that I understood I had joined a new club, one whose entry requirements are unfathomable until a parent dies. Late last month I made another transition, one carrying its own membership criteria: adult children caring full time for a … Continue reading Caring is creative, gratitude nourishes us all
What a difference a year makes
Just over a year ago I worked a full day at OHSU, boarded Tri-MET and conveniently jumped off a few blocks from Portland’s Amtrak station. Within an hour or two I boarded the Empire Builder train and undertook my overnight journey to Whitefish, Montana. I traveled without hand sanitizer or mask, and my biggest fear … Continue reading What a difference a year makes
A year of ripples
Today is the one-year anniversary of the launch of Beyond the Ripples. I am thankful I was able to have a live shout out that day, with so many friends and supporters joining me at the Willamette Ale House to celebrate the release. Not only was it special simply to introduce this new book, but … Continue reading A year of ripples
Zoom back to the future for football
Photo courtesy of the Multnomah Athletic Club Since you’re watching rerun sporting events on television, why not join the West Linn Historical Society to learn about football and its earliest roots in Oregon? Who were those first football players in Portland and where did they play? When was the first college game played in Oregon, … Continue reading Zoom back to the future for football
Masks and quarantines: Spanish Flu to COVID-19
During my last in-person visit with Mom, prior to the current ban on visitors, I likened aspects of today's situation to her growing up during World War II and the Depression. While circumstances and details are vastly different, I related to her how daily life was changed and people made sacrifices then, as now. Although … Continue reading Masks and quarantines: Spanish Flu to COVID-19
Caring for elderly during times of social distancing and isolation
Many of us are dealing with something we may never have imagined: being told we can’t visit the elder we love. It was today when Oregon’s Governor Kate Brown added adult group homes to the list of nursing and other senior living centers no longer allowed to have visitors. From the scientific and health protection … Continue reading Caring for elderly during times of social distancing and isolation
J.K. Gill’s returns
I thank my friend Sally for alerting me to a story I was surprised to have missed when it was released a month prior. Perhaps it’s time to update my google news feed search from Brazilian Blowout (as, no doubt, any news today on that depresses me these 10 years after we issued formaldehyde warnings) to … Continue reading J.K. Gill’s returns
Things that are tough to talk about
“Pond Monkeys, 1889” - digital image purchased from Old Oregon. No, in this moment I’m not writing about politics or discrimination. I am blogging about something that is related to my work, which I rarely do on this personal writing platform, except when I feel compelled to use this blog as a way to share … Continue reading Things that are tough to talk about
Dede's Books and blog 