The Rose Trees of Florence

Today I will be placing flowers on the grave of George Melvin Miller, and his father, Hulings Miller. When was the last time anyone visited these graves? George declined to have a plaque honoring him attached to the Siuslaw River Bridge in Florence, Oregon. It was his baby, his dream to connect Florence and her Rhodies to the City of New York. George was titled ‘The Prophet of Lane County’.

In the late fifties, we Presco children would give Georges niece a call. Juanita Miller was known as the ‘White Witch’. She lived close by in the Oakland Hills where we dwelt for almost ten years. Juanita gave advise to the Love Lorne on the phone. At thirteen, Christine would try to be much older then she was. She would make up horrific stories about her dysfunctional boyfriend or husband. Juanita did her best to sort out the mess.

As…