by Neal Lemery Fathers’ Day is a challenging holiday, and I’m relieved it has come and gone. The event is idealized in our culture, presented as a day of barbeques, family time,…
Category: Guest Column
My Recent Favorite Books
OIOpublisher EDITOR’S NOTE: Here’s some help for your Summer reading list from author Neal Lemery. The Tillamook County Library has several summer reading programs for kids, teens and adults with special prizes,…
Holding Space
By Neal Lemery These are not gentle times. And, having a mean streak seems almost a requirement these days, as we navigate social media and the cultural and political climate. Our culture,…
The Littoral Life: This final gift
By Dan Haag The phone call from Dr. Matt Didlake at Nehalem Animal Healing came at 5:07 pm. “I’m on my way over,” he said simply. Which meant we had maybe 10…
The Littoral Life: A Lullaby For Lilo
By Dan Haag Lilo, my exuberant canine companion, was developing a limp. Though it was becoming increasingly pronounced, I wasn’t initially all that worried. She is, after all, a giant Black Labrador…
Immersed in the Richness of Community Life
by Neal Lemery I found myself in the heart of the richness of my community’s life the other day. Tillamook High School charity drive students were handing out checks to a wide…
One Person Making A Difference
By Neal Lemery The daily news can be overwhelming, and often paralyzes me into a state of inaction, frustration, and disappointment on how I fit in. I wonder if my life really…
The Littoral Life: Ear Worms
By Dan Haag In the wee hours of the morning, people are often visited by visions of faceless, nameless demons who prey on their anxieties, denying them sleep. In my case, the…
The Littoral Life: Blessed be the caregivers
By Dan Haag There’s a scene in the classic Monty Python film, “Life Of Brian,” where John Cleese’s character is trying to fire up resistance fighters against the Romans. “What have the…
Grieving and Growing
By Neal Lemery The weeks before Spring, before the world comes fully awake from its winter slumber, and bursts forth with flowers and growth and new hope for a bright and joyous…