Boomer's Caboose came to me not really as a pen name but rather a pen place. An area in my head where I go to write. It's comfortable there. Like my temporary bedroom in my grandmother's attic when I was living there at age 15 in 1975 when we moved back to Port Angeles from California.

But with my stuff. My memories.

Being born at the end of the Baby Boom, my life's experience has been from that perspective and I couldn't have chosen a better time to be born. I believe we do choose the time and the place by the way. 

(Joel Wasankari - 1959 to ?)

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Boomer's Caboose

(age 9 era, 1968)

Lee Wagstaff well he did get a new Schwinn Lemon Peeler
And the Schwinn's much better than my old Sears they did say
Salaried my dad had less paycheck how outrageous
So thanks again folks for my five speed stingray

Two little boys tearing the neighbor's stone wall down
Who knew they were thinkin' Cheerios made 'em strong?
See sometimes a kid slips off into cartoonland
For a moment not mindful any of it was wrong

Grandfather Clock won't you tell Mr. Greenjeans
Moose and ol' Rabbit have both gone away
Dancing Bear died and I fear it's contageous
And it seems that the Captain's not coming today

Please take me back to ol' Gilligan's Island
A tangled up Slinky and Hot Wheels on the floor
The days went on forever and then all of a sudden
The Captain he didn't come around here no more

When I am a Line in the Stone

When I am a line in the stone on the hillside
When all that I am is buried in clay
Will the winds up above a few centuries passing
Blow our love's memories in the sun making hay?

Will there still be wild horses to run in the valley?
When all that is us becomes beaches sand
Will the breeze blowing pollen onto the lupine
Perhaps carry our laughter over Wyoming land?

I saw horses today run like the wind fast
Not seeming to tire despite a hard run
Could they be grazing on grass mixed with our memories
Of old lovers laughter who'll never be done?

The man in the moon left this morning

If my good reasons for leaving were quarters
My justification measured in dimes
I'd have not the change in my pocket
To call you and tell you bad rhymes

And some people will say
That life has a way
To charge a high price for lessons obtained
There's no cutting in line
Wisdom's never on sale
Those paying move on
And just fools will remain

So abandon your ruses
Lengthen your fuses
Put your excuses high on a shelf
And don't even fear
That the ol' man in the mirror
Laughs at your back
If you can't laugh at yourself

The man in the moon left this morning
With a silver spoon in his hand
And with him you left with no warning
As the hour glass ran out of sand

Ghost Train

The old train whistle whines
As I'm standing in lines
Of stations long since burned down
The ghost train has my soul
And I've paid my toll
To ride it to hell through the ground

I had a girl on the farm
Never meant her no harm
As I planted her acres of wheat
After I bent my back
By the old railroad track
My broken heart knocked her off of her feet

Some say she went north
Some say she went west
My concience moves me down the steel rail
I'll always go forth
It's just that it's best
I'm not suited for for prison or jail