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I Must Learn How to Sign My Name



I will have the immense pleasure of doing some book signings in the near future. Since all my other books were self published, and not promoted in any useful manner, this will be a new experience for me. I am not sure exactly why authors do this sort of thing. Well, I know it is to sell books, but you see, I myself, have never been to a book signing. So I look forward to it. I am very grateful that someone would actually buy a copy of my book, so should they want me to sign it, I will do so gladly.

I especially look forward to meeting people who know a lot about the subject of Portland history. I know you are out there and I am dying to meet you.


While on the subject I had better mention the details:

Meet the Author Events

OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
45th Annual Holiday Cheer Event
A Celebration of Oregon Authors
Sunday, December 2, Noon - 4 PM
Admission: $5, free for OHS members, includes admission to museum exhibits

COSTCO Aloha store
December 8th - Time to be announced
15901 SW Jenkins Road
Aloha, OR

OREGON MARITIME MUSEUM
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, between the Burnside and Morrison Bridges
December 16th
Public signing 2pm to 4pm
Members only 4pm to 6pm With a cookie swap watching the Christmas boats


COSTCO Tigard store
December 22nd - Time to be announced
7850 SW Dartmouth
Tigard, OR

More about "Blalock"


I must also get over this strong aversion to self promotion. In some future post I will tell the story of the dread "Blalock Curse." It isn't strongly related to Portland history, or maritime history,  being a North Carolina tale. But it may " 'splain a few thangs."
Mary Edith Blalock "Mom"

By way of a little appetizer, to whet your taste for the subject, here is a photograph of my mother taken in front of the sign at the entrance to the little town of Blalock, Oregon. The town platted in 1881. It was named after my grandfather's uncle, Dr. N.G. Blalock, a big wig in the Paloose of Washington State (where the hills roll as though they were painted by Grant Wood). The little burg was on the south bank of the Columbia River, near Blalock Island, and Blalock Canyon.  Both the island an the canyon remain, although the island is now about a tenth of its original size. But the town is submerged, the dwelling place of sturgeon and crayfish, beneath the waters backed up by the John Day Dam.

The town was once a going concern. It had a post office and a station for the Oregon &Washington Railroad and Navigation Company. There was a general merchandise store, two grain warehouses, some sort of plow and combine factory, a hotel, a livery stable, and a few other things. No saloon has ever been mentioned as far as I can tell. This would fit in with the name Blalock, teetotalers since the days when John the Baptist was feasting on grasshoppers, wild honey, and pure spring water. It was a nice little place, and they probably would have still built the dam, even if it wasn't named "Blalock."

Cheers! All 'ya all!

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