Author Archives: Jim Blackwood Jr

My New Bike: At Least I Missed the Creek

Posted on November 19, 2022 by Jim Blackwood Jr

You never forget. Just like riding a bike. Something I reminded myself as I extracted myself from an Alder tree. In the memory fog, most of us have a rite of passage story about our first bike ride. It’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

My Improbable Dahlia Habit

Posted on September 18, 2022 by Jim Blackwood Jr

Another happy surprise I took from Portland. I am a dahlia guy. Growing up, I hated yard work. In the desert, it was a hot, nasty business that ended with me wheezing and sneezing nonstop in front of the air … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The First Portland Apartment Porch Mystery

Posted on August 16, 2022 by Jim Blackwood Jr

Good grief, it has been a long time since I have had the time to sit down and write. The last 2 months of the move have been one task after another. I enjoy feeling productive and genuinely enjoy the … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Portland the First Time: My Euphoria Story

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Jim Blackwood Jr

As Sally and I get ready to leave Portland, it occurred to me I have been clear why I am leaving, but not so revealing about why I came here. So, this tale will be one of a series of … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Heading for the T-Places

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Jim Blackwood Jr

I have an admission. From the mid-1980’s when I arrived here until a few months ago, I had no idea there was a difference between the cities of Tigard and Tualatin. I knew they were somewhere south of Portland. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

My Best Live Show… Ever

Posted on December 28, 2021 by Jim Blackwood Jr

With over 1,000 shows on my list, as I watched the snow fall, I thought about which one was the pinnacle. I could go big, Bowie, Stones, Who, Eagles in the 70s. But as my memory pot simmered, and everything … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The End of Mystery

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Jim Blackwood Jr

Surfing Netflix, I came across the 1998 movie, “As Good as It Gets.” If you haven’t seen it, just the on-screen time between Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, who both won Academy Awards, is worth the 2 hours. About 90 … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Does America Only Have 3 Years Left?

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Jim Blackwood Jr

I was awash in hope for the great American experiment. It is a wonderful notion, this idea that a wildly diverse collection of humans would gather to commit themselves to a creed, a collection of ideas. Through the flaws at … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Emptying The Boxes

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Jim Blackwood Jr

The two small boxes could not have been more different. One was a neat, glossy, rectangular wooden box. Simple, but nicely made. The other was tin metal with a paisley flower pattern on the outside. In another life, it would … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Drake! WE ARE LEAVING!!!

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Jim Blackwood Jr

Have you ever been to a show with a band you love and about halfway through the set you are done? Maybe the line-up changed. Perhaps the new album was an awful dance-beat nightmare? Or maybe, to your surprise, your … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment