For the second time in my life, I have to look for a new restaurant.

After I turned 44 in 1994, I decided I wanted to find a restaurant that I could go to on a regular basis.

It took a while, but I finally landed at Miller’s Restaurant outside of Mill Creek. It was run by people from Belleville and had home cooked meals. And you could look out the window and see trains pass by. I’m a train guy. Talk about being in heaven.

At the time I was working in Harrisburg, so I could only go there on the weekends and once in a while I would get off the bus in Lewistown and drive there for an evening meal. On Saturdays I would get the same meal, pork chops, mashed potatoes, a vegetable, bread, ice tea and a piece of homemade pie.

Sometimes after church on Sunday, I would take my mother to Miller’s for a meal. Every time, I took the AMTRAK west. I would try to watch for Miller’s as the train passed by.

But, after the restaurant changed hands for the second time in 2013, it just wasn’t the same.

I had to go hunting for another place to eat.

It took a while again to find another restaurant, but one day I walked into Michele’s OIP (in Reedsville). It turned out to be heaven-sent.

I could get breakfast, read the newspaper or one of my sports magazines and sometimes I would go back for an afternoon meal.

It had everything that I wanted, good food and great service. Most of the customers in the morning were the same people, so it was like one big family.

I was able to take my mother there on Sundays and we would meet her sister for a family get together.

After my mother passed away in 2021, my aunt and her daughter met there for a Saturday breakfast with me. Sometimes, I would eat with my aunt and her friends.

In 2016, Michele treated the Mifflin County Babe Ruth 13-year-old All-Stars to a dinner before they went off to Iowa and won the national title.

My 75th birthday party was held at Michele’s.

For the past three years, she treated her regular customers to a Christmas dinner. Every time I Ieft Mifflin County, I couldn’t wait to get home to go to Michele’s.

I finally retired from my job in Harrisburg (after 40 years) in December 2022. I really didn’t want to retire, but the only thing that I looked forward to was going to Michele’s on a regular basis. I can remember my first Monday after retirement, it was five degrees going down 655 from Belleville to Reedsville.

For me, Michele’s had great meals, like mashed potatoes and turnkey or roast beef. Two of my favorites were Sloppy Joes and mashed potatoes, noodles and chicken. Many people loved her pot pie.

But, now that part of my life has come to an end. Her last official day was March 28.

So, now I must find another family restaurant that will be just like another small piece of heaven.