12/13/2025
I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and later attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison. I chose it because it was a large university, and I felt it would give me options while I figured out what I wanted to study. While I was there, I met my husband. What still amuses me is that he grew up in Philadelphia and I grew up in Wilmington—only about 20 or 30 miles apart—and we shared many friends, yet we didn’t meet until we were both in Wisconsin. We dated and married about a year later.
After I graduated, we decided to move to San Francisco since neither of us had ever been to the West Coast. My husband found work there, and I began a career with the federal government after taking the Federal Service Entrance Exam. We enjoyed San Francisco very much and lived there for nine years. Eventually, our jobs brought us back east, and we moved to the suburbs of Washington, DC, and later Arlington, Virginia. We were living there during 9/11 and could see the Pentagon from our balcony, which made us stop and rethink where we wanted to be.
In 2001, we took a vacation to Portland, a city we had never visited before. We were very impressed, especially by the streetcar and the fact that neither of us needed to rely on a car. We moved to Portland and lived near Portland State University, where I was fortunate to use the library and computers. I didn’t know much about computers at the time, and what I do know now, I learned there. Later, we moved to the Pearl District.
While living there, a close friend encouraged me to look into senior living while I was still healthy. With some guidance, I was introduced to Laurel Parc, and I decided it was the right choice. I’ve now lived here for about nine months.
Life at Laurel Parc has been very good for me. I enjoy reading and appreciate the library, and I like walking and staying active. What I enjoy most is how friendly everyone is—both the staff and the residents. There is always something going on, and it’s hard to feel bored.
Looking back, Portland is my favorite place I’ve lived. Living at Laurel Parc has helped me feel more connected, supported, and very much at home.
-Miriam
