A Purchase to Remember

Loran Swanson    Games 

It was early in the month of December, 1957.  I was in Japan, nearing the finish of my five and a half year tour of duty in the  U.S.Navy.  Wanting to buy a few gifts for friends and family back in the states, I was shopping in the ships store in Yokosuka.  Several items filled…continue reading »

A Country High School

Loran Swanson    Games 

I had left home before dawn arriving early, just as I had done many times while I was in school so I could play football before classes began.  The sun had just cleared the horizon, casting shadows through the low hanging fog that drifted over an area that once was the most beautiful place I…continue reading »

Do you think it was right that the leaders of Germany and Japan were put on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity but those in charge of dropping the atomic bomb and other allied powers were not tried?

Loran Swanson    Military 

How can you compare War Crimes committed by the German and Japanese leadership against humanity, with the leadership of America? German leadership sent 13   to 17 million innocent people to gas chambers who had done nothing wrong to warrant this action.  Just because they were Jewish, 5 to 6 million were sent to gas chambers….continue reading »

COINCIDENCE, MAYBE!!!

Loran Swanson    Military 

The name Louie Zamparini probably doesn’t ring a bell with very many people today, unless you are a real sports nut.  In the middle thirties Louie had become a world class distance runner and probably would have been the first person to break the four minute mile.  His sights were set on the 1940 Olympics…continue reading »

CUP CAKES TO DIE FOR

Loran Swanson    Food 

Like so many mothers of the depression, my mother had the ability to make something so wonderfully delicious, even when it first appeared, the cupboard was bare.  Often when I had ran the three miles home from school, my empty stomach would be growling as I searched the cupboard for something to tide me over…continue reading »

A Pizza Party Like No Other

Loran Swanson    Food 

After two hours of tennis, I stepped off the court, salty sweat dripping from my face, feeling good about a  strenuous 7-6, 7-5 hard fought match with friends.  Heading for the club house, something began feeling  unusual on the upper left side of my chest so I sat down, resting for a while, thinking some…continue reading »

Graveyard Stew

Loran Swanson    Food 

So what is it? The standard recipe is lightly toasted bread with a generous spread of butter served in a shallow bowl with steaming hot, fresh, whole milk poured over the top. Doesn’t sound good? Have you ever tried it?  Or maybe you know someone like my grandma, who did not like her false teeth,…continue reading »

What’s for Dinner?

Loran Swanson    Food 

Unless you grew up on a farm you probably would be thinking dinner as being the evening meal.  It was only 10:00 AM and several hours of hard work were behind us.  Supper was still about eight hours away.  Dinner for us was a hearty meal served at noon with a lunch break around 9:30,…continue reading »

Yesterdays Menu

Loran Swanson    Food 

I didn’t know we were poor.  Most young children don’t.  The 30’s were some of the most difficult times in our recorded history.  But I can’t recall of ever being really hungry. If you could choose one food that you would have to eat every day, what would it be?  For me, I think I…continue reading »

The Mulberry Tree’s Ultimate Gift

Loran Swanson    Uncategorized 

One lonely tree was planted in the pasture, about a quarter of a mile from our house.  The only water it got was when it rained.  While my father not only thought of his family with a garden and orchard near the house, the mulberry tree was planted to provide shade and shelter for the…continue reading »