I have wanted to meet Durward Swanson, a WWII Veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor, for more than 10 years, ever since I learned about his experiences when he spoke at a Memorial Day Program, not long after moving to my community a decade ago. So it is appropriate that he is the inaugural “On My Journey” post (on Memorial Day 2017) about people I’ve met throughout my life. Mr. Swanson is 95. Mr. Swanson spoke Saturday during another Memorial Day Program in my home community, whi

When the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus gave its last performance this week, I felt mixed emotions about the end of this era. My grandfather, A. Bruce Miller, whom I called Pepa, had a deep connection to the circus that remained an integral part of his life and impacted mine. His father, my great-grandfather, was a musician, a cornet player, for a brief period of time with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, which was eventually bought by Ringling Brothers. As a teena

I’ve never been one to work in my yard much. I come from a line of farmers but digging in the dirt does not fill me with joy. My grandfather and my brother, Bart, both grew tasty vegetables in the summer, but the most I do is plant a few bulbs or annuals. The flowers have to thrive along with the weeds. Apparently, I’m really good at growing trees in my gutter. Mowing is a chore I usually put on the backburner, especially when it is extremely hot. My front yard takes in the m