From stories collected from Tara as well as her siblings Tara's parents could be described as follows: Her mom, Sara McMillan, was kind, nurturing, and an amazing cook who loved to experiment with new recipes. Her dad, John McMillan, was intelligent, had a dry sense of humor, and instilled in her a strong work ethic. Both were supportive of her education and community-oriented, volunteering their time to help others.
They met in or around 1930, and were married in 1940 at a small ceremony in Tara's mom's hometown. It was a beautiful summer day, and Sara wore a simple but elegant white dress. John wore a navy suit, and they exchanged vows in a small church with just close family and friends in attendance. It was a simple but perfect day, and the start of a long and happy marriage.
Just a few years later they would have another addition to the family...
I was born on a sunny day in June in the small town of Millfield, Ohio. Millfield is a quiet, rural community located in the north-central part of the state. My parents, John and Sara McMillan, were thrilled to welcome me into the world. They were both young and in love, and I was their first child.
I don't remember much about the first month of my life, of course, but my parents have told me stories about bringing me home from the hospital. They said I was a tiny, delicate baby who loved to sleep and cuddle. They were nervous and excited as they settled into their new roles as parents, and they spent those early days bonding with me and getting used to life as a family of three.
Looking back, I feel grateful for those early days of love and connection with my parents. I know that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a loving and supportive family, and I feel blessed to have had that foundation from the very beginning of my life.
I remember spending hours playing with my mom's pots and pans as a young child. I would line them up on the floor and pretend I was cooking elaborate meals for my imaginary friends.
My mom would always smile and encourage me, telling me that I had a talent for cooking. She even let me help her in the kitchen sometimes, and I loved learning new recipes and techniques from her. As I got older, my love of cooking only grew stronger. I started experimenting with my own recipes and eventually went on to culinary school.
Now, I'm a successful chef with my own restaurant, and I owe a lot of that success to those early days of playing with my mom's pots and pans.
My dad was always my hero when I was growing up. He was the one who would take me on long walks through the woods near our house, pointing out different animals and plants along the way.
I remember feeling so safe and loved when I was with him. He would always encourage me to ask questions and explore my surroundings. One of my favorite memories with him was the time we went on a camping trip together. We spent the weekend hiking, fishing, and telling stories around the campfire. I remember feeling so proud when I caught my first fish, and my dad was right there cheering me on.
Even though he's no longer with us, I still think about him every day and the amazing adventures we had together
The 'haircut incident' is one of my funniest memories from childhood. My best friend Sue and I thought we were so clever when we snuck into the bathroom with a pair of scissors and started cutting away at our hair.
We were only about five years old at the time, and we had no idea what we were doing. When our moms saw what we had done, they were not too pleased. We both ended up with choppy, uneven haircuts that took months to grow out.
Looking back, it's funny to think about how innocent and naive we were. But it's also a reminder of the importance of learning from our mistakes and not taking ourselves too seriously.
I remember feeling so excited and nervous on my first days first grade. I was wearing a brand new dress and carrying a shiny new backpack that was almost as big as me.
I had spent the entire summer practicing my letters and numbers with my mom, so I felt pretty confident that I was ready for anything. But as soon as I walked into the classroom and saw all the other kids, I started to feel a little bit intimidated.
Luckily, my teacher was amazing. She had a way of making everyone feel welcome and included, even on the first day. We spent the morning doing fun activities like coloring and singing songs, and by lunchtime, I felt like I had already made some new friends. It was such a special day, and one that I will always remember.
One of my favorite memories from elementary school was the time my class went on a field trip to a local farm. We spent the whole day learning about different animals and crops, and even got to pick our own apples and pumpkins.
I remember feeling so excited to be out of the classroom and exploring the world around me. It was such a fun and memorable experience, and it sparked my interest in learning more about agriculture and understanding where our food comes from. In fact, I went on to study agriculture in college and eventually started my own farm to table restaurant.
Looking back, I realize that that field trip was the beginning of a lifelong passion for me.
I remember feeling very isolated and lonely during my first year of High School. My family had moved to a new town, and I was the only kid in my class who didn't really know anyone. I remember feeling like an outsider and struggling to make friends.
I would often eat lunch by myself and spend recess wandering around the playground aimlessly. It was a really tough time for me, and I often felt like giving up. But I had an amazing teacher who saw what I was going through and took the time to talk to me and help me find ways to connect with my classmates.
She even paired me up with another student who was fairly to the school, Jenny Ridel, and we became fast friends. Looking back, I realize that that experience taught me the importance of kindness and inclusion, and it made me a stronger and more empathetic person.
